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{{Short description|International airport serving Rajkot, Gujarat, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Rajkot International Airport
| ensign =
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| nativename =
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| image = [[File:Terminal building of Hirasar Airport.jpg|250px]]
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| IATA = HSR
| ICAO = VAHS
| FAA =
| TC =
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| WMO =
| type = Public
| owner-oper =
| owner = [[Airports Authority of India]]
| operator =
| city-served = [[Rajkot]]
| location = Hirasar, [[Rajkot district]], [[Gujarat]], [[India]]
| opened = {{start date and age|2023|07|27|df=yes|p=n|br=n}}<ref name="TFE">{{cite news|last=Sen|first=Anindita|title=Gujarat gets first Greenfield Airport! PM Modi inaugurates international airport near Rajkot|url=
https://www.financialexpress.com/business/airlines-aviation-gujarat-gets-first-greenfield-airport-pm-modi-inaugurates-international-airport-near-rajkot-3189281/|work=The Financial Express|date=27 July 2023|access-date=27 July 2023|language=en}}</ref>
| closed = 
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| coordinates = {{Coord|22|23|17|N|71|01|42|E|type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-wikidata = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 14
| website = 
| image_map =
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| pushpin_map = India Gujarat#India
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_alt = Proposed location in Gujarat
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Gujarat
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_image =
| pushpin_label = '''HSR'''
| pushpin_label_position =
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| r1-number = 05/23<ref>{{cite news|url=http://environmentclearance.nic.in/writereaddata/EIA/29082017JMLHVW0QFinalEIAReport_Rajkot.pdf |title=Environmental Impact Assessment Study |publisher= [[Engineers India Limited]]| date= 28 August 2017 | access-date= 1 August 2019}}</ref>
| r1-length-f = 9974
| r1-length-m = 3040
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
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}}

'''Rajkot International Airport''', also known as '''Hirasar Airport''' {{airport codes|HSR|VAHS}} is an [[international airport]] and a [[greenfield airport]] at Hirasar, [[Gujarat]], [[India]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://environmentclearance.nic.in/writereaddata/Online/TOR/17_Apr_2017_132736343WHJLRH6QBriefDescriptionofRajkotairport.pdf|title=Brief Description New Greenfield Airport at Rajkot|publisher= Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India |access-date= 8 October 2017}}</ref> serving the city of [[Rajkot]] and the [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra region]]. It is located near the [[National Highway 8B (India, old numbering)|National Highway 8B]] (NH-8B) connecting [[Ahmedabad]] and [[Rajkot]]. It has a single runway for the operation of ‘C’ category aircraft.<ref name="HBL1">{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/rinfra-emerges-lowest-bidder-for-greenfield-hirasar-airport-in-gujarat/article24686096.ece|title=RInfra emerges lowest bidder for greenfield Hirasar airport in Gujarat|newspaper= [[The Hindu Business Line]]| date= 14 August 2018 | access-date= 5 March 2019}}</ref> The airport was developed by the [[Airports Authority of India]] (AAI) at a cost of {{INRConvert|2654|c}}.<ref name="TOI1">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/rs-7737-crore-okayed-for-dholera-hirasar-airports/articleshow/69998496.cms|title=Rs 7,737 crore okayed for Dholera, Hirasar airports |work= [[The Times of India]]| date= 29 Jun 2019 | access-date= 1 August 2019}}</ref> The [[Cornerstone|foundation stone]] for the construction of the airport was laid on 7 October 2017, and was inaugurated by [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Narendra Modi]] on 27 July 2023, which was previously expected to be done on 31 December 2023.<ref name="TFE"/>

Flight operations are expected to begin from 10 September 2023, by shifting all flight operations to this airport from the existing [[Rajkot Airport]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Rajkot International Airport likely to start operations on Sept 10|url=https://deshgujarat.com/2023/08/08/rajkot-international-airport-likely-to-start-operations-on-sept-10/|work=DeshGujarat|date=8 August 2023|access-date=8 August 2023|language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
The site clearance approval for the airport was granted by the [[Government of India]] in May 2017. [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Narendra Modi]] presided over the groundbreaking ceremony held on 7 October 2017. The [[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change]] (MoEFCC) accorded environmental clearance (EC) to the project on 10 October 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/new-rajkot-airport-gets-green-nod/articleshow/61074914.cms |title=New Rajkot airport gets green nod |newspaper= [[The Times of India]]| date= 14 October 2017 | access-date= 14 October 2017}}</ref>

Land acquisition issues delayed the tendering process by a few months.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/land-acquisition-delays-new-airport-tender/articleshow/63602525.cms|title=Land acquisition delays new airport tender|newspaper= [[The Times of India]]| date= 4 April 2018 | access-date= 5 March 2019}}</ref> [[Afcons]], [https://www.dilipbuildcon.com/wps/portal/dbl/projects/projects-airport Dilip Buildcon], Gayatri Projects, [[Larsen & Toubro]] and [[Reliance Infrastructure]] were among the bidders for the [[Engineering, procurement, and construction]] (EPC) tender floated by the [[Airports Authority of India]] (AAI). The financial bids were opened on 9 August 2018 and Dilip Buildcon emerged as the lowest bidder. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval for the project on 28 February 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pib.nic.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1566716|title=Cabinet approves development of New Greenfield International Airport at Hirasar, Rajkot, Gujarat|newspaper= [[Press Information Bureau]]| date= 28 February 2019 | access-date= 5 March 2019}}</ref> Subsequently, in March 2019, Reliance Infrastructure was awarded the EPC contract worth {{INRConvert|648|c}} to construct the airport. The construction was given a completion deadline of within 30 months.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/reliance-infrastructure-limited-wins-bid-for-greenfield-airport-in-rajkot-for-648-crore/article26436283.ece/amp/|title=Reliance Infrastructure Limited wins bid for greenfield airport in Rajkot for ₹ 648 crore|newspaper= [[The Hindu]]| date= 5 March 2019 | access-date= 5 March 2019}}</ref> The contract also requires the contractor to provide operation and maintenance services for a period of two years following the commissioning of the project.<ref name="HBL1"/> The Central Government had initially sanctioned {{INRConvert|1405|c}} for the project,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/narendra-modi-in-gujarat-pm-presides-over-bhumi-pujan-of-greenfield-airport-at-hirasar-near-rajkot-4120171.html |title=Narendra Modi in Gujarat: PM presides over 'bhumi pujan' of greenfield airport at Hirasar near Rajkot |publisher= [[Firstpost]]| date= 7 October 2017 | access-date= 8 October 2017}}</ref> but revised the amount in June 2019 to {{INRConvert|2654|c}}.<ref name="TOI1"/>
<ref>Dilip Buildcon bags Rajkot Greenfield International Airport Project https://www.airport-technology.com/news/dilip-buildcon-hirasar-greenfield/</ref>

The airport was expected to be completed and opened on 31 December 2023. However, it was completed before time in the last quarter of June 2023, and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27 July 2023.<ref name="TFE"/>

==Infrastructure==
The airport is capable of handling [[Airbus A380]], [[Boeing 747]] and [[Boeing 777]]<ref>Rajkot's new airport runway is capable of handling wide body aircraft like B777 & A380
https://www.airport-technology.com/news/aai-rajkot-greenfield-airport/</ref><ref>Aircraft Runway Requirements https://aircyber.weebly.com/aircraft-runway-requirements.html</ref> type of widebody aircraft, and has a [[rainwater harvesting]] system, solar power system and a green belt along its periphery to act as a noise barrier. It has a built-up area of 23,000 sq.m. and has an [[Air traffic control|Air Traffic Control]] (ATC) tower, four [[Jet bridge|aerobridges]], an apron suitable for parking of 14 aircraft, three conveyor belts, 20 check-in counters, advanced firefighting systems along with modern and efficient passenger facilities. It will be capable of serving over 1,800 passengers during peak hours. The facade design of the terminal is based on the [[Ranjit Vilas Palace (Wankaner)|Ranjit Vilas Palace]] and various traditional art forms like [[Dandiya Raas|Dandiya dance]], a renowned dance form of Gujarat. The airport, measuring {{convert|2534|acre|sqkm}}, is situated 36 km from the existing [[Rajkot Airport]], whose capacity is constrained and cannot be expanded because of urban growth around it.<ref>{{cite news|title=Greenfield Airport in Rajkot to be operational by 2023 end|url=https://m.economictimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/greenfield-airport-in-rajkot-to-be-operational-by-2023-end/articleshow/96732173.cms|work=The Economic Times|date=4 January 2023|access-date=13 January 2023|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/airlines-aviation/gujarats-hirasar-airport-to-soon-begin-flight-operations-heres-all-you-need-to-know-about-states-largest-airport/2999875/ | title=Gujarat's Hirasar airport to soon begin flight operations – Here's all you need to know about state's largest airport }}</ref><ref name="TFE"/>

== See also==
* [[List of airports in Gujarat]]
* [[Rajkot Airport]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}{{Airports in India}}

[[Category:Airports in Gujarat]]
[[Category:International airports in India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Rajkot]]
[[Category:Transport in Rajkot]]
[[Category:Airports established in 2023]]

Rajkot International Airport - Revision history

Franolaxy at 08:41, 15 March 2026

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article