Union Civil Aviation Minister Mr. Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu stated on August 25, 2025, that the central government plans to construct 350 airports by 2047 in line with its long-term vision for a ‘Viksit Bharat’. Addressing the Eastern Region Ministers’ Conference on Civil Aviation, he mentioned that India presently possesses 162 airports and aims to more than double this figure in the next twenty years. He highlighted that civil aviation is among the fastest-growing industries in India, with considerable assistance provided to states to enhance aviation infrastructure. He emphasized that over the past 11 years, 88 new airports have been created, including in tier two and tier three cities, highlighting the sector's swift growth. He revealed new initiatives in Odisha, featuring a terminal structure at Bhubaneswar airport and a preliminary endorsement for an airport in Puri, anticipated to be finished within two years of building. He also highlighted that 11 airstrips in Odisha could potentially be converted into airports and noted assistance for Flight Training Organisations (FTOs) to address increasing pilot requirements. Regarding connectivity, he mentioned that seaplane services will soon commence in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, and heliports will be established in mountainous areas and the Northeast where airports are impractical