India charts aviation growth path for Viksit Bharat 2047

At a roundtable themed “Reimagining Airport Passenger Infrastructure,” industry leaders shared insights on building smarter, greener airports, highlighting India’s $12B investment and its goal to become a $4B self-reliant aviation hub by 2031

In the lead-up to the Inter Passenger Terminal Show (IPTS) 2025, Media Fusion LLC hosted a high-impact media roundtable in Mumbai, bringing together key figures from the government, aviation, and infrastructure sectors. Themed “Reimagining Airport Passenger Infrastructure through Innovation, Technology, and Sustainability,” the event offered deep insights into building smarter, greener, and more future-ready airport ecosystems across India.

The roundtable featured a distinguished panel including Joseph Gouda, Joint Director, Indian Revenue Service; Sumeet Suseelan, Member, Ministry of Civil Aviation (AAC); Geetha Priya G, Senior Director & Sector Head – Infrastructure & Airports, JLL India; Nitin Sharma, DVP – Business Development, dormakaba; Vikram Falodiya, Head – Terminal Operations, Navi Mumbai International Airport; and Taher Patrawala, Managing Director, Media Fusion LLC.

India’s aviation expansion roadmap to 2047

India’s aviation sector is witnessing unprecedented growth, now standing as the world’s third-largest domestic market. It contributes 1.5% to the nation’s GDP and supports over 7.7 million jobs. With more than 85 new airports developed in the past decade, the country aims to increase this number to 350 by 2047, aligned with the government’s Viksit Bharat roadmap.

Panelists emphasized the urgent need to modernize infrastructure to meet growing demand, with over $12 billion already invested in air transport development. The discussion also highlighted India’s ambition to capture a $4 billion share of the global Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) market by 2031, reinforcing the goal of establishing the country as a self-reliant aviation hub.

Smart infrastructure to bridge critical gaps

Key priorities discussed included bridging infrastructure gaps, strengthening regional connectivity through the UDAN scheme, reducing import dependencies, and adopting sustainable construction practices. Technologies such as biometric-based Digi Yatra, AI-powered digital twins, multi-modal transport systems, and Net Zero-ready, LEED-certified terminals were highlighted as critical to the next phase of airport modernization.

Geetha Priya G of JLL India emphasized the importance of building infrastructure that is resilient, adaptive, and sustainable. “Greenfield projects allow us to innovate freely, while brownfield developments challenge us to rethink within constraints. The future lies in modular design, centralized operations, and early-stage collaboration to align technology, policy, and operational needs,” she said.

Building India’s aviation workforce

Sumeet Suseelan from the Ministry of Civil Aviation spoke on the need to reform training and policy frameworks to bridge India’s aviation manpower gap. “India is emerging as a global aviation talent hub but lacks adequate training capacity. Expanding programs beyond airline-led initiatives to include private institutes and universities will be critical. With the right policies, India can become a global training destination,” he noted.

The roundtable also underscored the need to empower India’s aviation workforce, with a focus on gender diversity in leadership and expanding roles for Indian startups in shaping airport technologies.

Innovation at the core

Nitin Sharma of dormakaba highlighted India's rapid strides in travel tech, citing Digi Yatra as a transformative initiative. “We’ve made your face your boarding pass. From AI-powered gate controls to data privacy safeguards, India is pioneering global benchmarks in airport efficiency and security. With under 10% of the population flying, our challenge is to scale smartly and securely,” he said.

Joseph Gouda of the Indian Revenue Service added that balancing security with seamless passenger experiences is essential. “Mumbai clears up to 25,000 international passengers daily with an average 10-minute customs process. With AI, ML, RFID, and advanced passenger data, we aim to reduce this to five minutes—enhancing both security and convenience,” he explained.

Collaboration, capacity, and connectivity

A spokesperson from Navi Mumbai International Airport highlighted the need for coordinated efforts to support India’s growing air traffic. “Cities like Mumbai may need additional airports by 2040. Despite rising volumes, Indian airports continue to rank high in global efficiency. Policy support and smart planning will be key to sustaining this growth,” they stated.

Taher Patrawala, Managing Director of Media Fusion LLC, shared the vision behind IPTS. “We created IPTS to fill a gap in India’s aviation ecosystem. In just 12 months, we’ve brought together over 60 exhibitors, 50+ global speakers, and nearly 3,000 participants. It’s more than an event—it’s a strategic platform for shaping the future of India’s airport infrastructure.”

Setting the stage for IPTS 2025