Airport to be built in Ujjain: Union Aviation Minister Shri Naidu

Cities will undergo transit-oriented development, with the construction of underbridges planned to streamline urban traffic management. Policies for city development will be revised based on stakeholder suggestions. Urban Development and Housing Minister Shri Kailash Vijayvargiya said this while addressing the Urban Development Session of the Global Investors Summit-2025. Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri K. Ram Mohan Naidu announced plans for an additional airport in Ujjain. Panchayat, Rural Development, and Labour Minister Shri Prahlad Singh Patel highlighted the need for aligning Gram Panchayat regulations with urban development laws. He also assured improvements in labour laws to prevent conflicts between industrialists and workers. During the session, dignitaries launched the MP EV Tarang Portal.

MoUs signed

MoUs were signed with five companies for air services in the cities. An MoU was signed with Air India Express for starting air services on international routes Indore to Abu Dhabi and Indore to Bangkok and domestic routes Indore to Patna, Indore to Kochi, and Indore to Varanasi. An MoU was signed with Frankfinn Company for starting 5 aviation academies in Madhya Pradesh. 6 to 7 thousand people are likely to get employment in this. MoU was signed with Fly Bharati for airport development in Ujjain. An investment of Rs. 750 crore will be made in this. An MoU was signed with ‘Company Pradhan Air’ for starting air services in Ujjain and within the state with an investment of Rs. 150 crore. MoU was signed with Inavia Aviation Consultants GmbH for setting up Maintenance Repair and Operation (MRO) in Bhopal. An investment of Rs. 500 crore is likely in this in the first phase. The Urban Development and Housing Department has signed an MoU with the Training Institute of the Administrative Staff College of India for the training of officers and employees of the department.

Public participation is an important part of city development

Minister Shri Vijayvargiya emphasized that public participation plays a crucial role in city development. He stressed that cleanliness should become a part of Indore’s culture, ensuring its transformation into a green and clean city. To combat rising temperatures, a target has been set to reduce the temperature by 4°C by planting 2.5 crore saplings in Indore over the next five years. Shri Vijayvargiya also highlighted the government’s commitment to policies that foster urban growth, state development, and investor success. He further informed that the Central Government has established a Rs one lakh crore trust fund for the planned development of cities in Madhya Pradesh. The Urban Development and Housing Department will make concrete efforts to secure adequate funding from the Center for this initiative.

Madhya Pradesh will develop as a civil aviation hub

Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri Naidu stated that Madhya Pradesh is poised to develop as a major civil aviation hub, given its favorable conditions for establishing training institutes. He highlighted the potential for launching aero sports in the state. Comparing the Global Investors Summit in Bhopal to the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, he praised Chief Minister Dr. Yadav for setting a unique precedent by bringing together a Mahakumbh of investors. Shri Naidu also commended Madhya Pradesh’s new investment-friendly policies. He emphasized the government’s commitment to expanding air connectivity across the country, with a target of establishing an airport every 100 km. In areas where space constraints prevent airport construction, helipads will be developed instead.

During the session, Principal Secretary for Urban Development and Housing, Shri Sanjay Kumar Shukla, provided in-depth insights on ‘Developing Cities of Tomorrow.’ Commissioner Urban Development and Housing, Shri Sibi Chakraborty, delivered a presentation on creating Green, Clean, and Livable Cities. Dr. Debolina Kundu, Director of the National Institute of Urban Affairs, highlighted that by 2054, more than 50 percent of the population will become urban, emphasizing the urgent need for planned city development. Chief Executive Officer of the IIHCL Project, Shri Palash Srivastava, Senior Executive Director of DLF Township, Shri Rajiv Singh, and World Bank Country Director for India, Shri Auguste Tano Koumi, along with other experts, also shared valuable suggestions.