Dholera International Airport: Phase 1 Complete

Phase 1 civil construction was completed in December 2025, marking a watershed moment for Dholera International Airport at Navagam village near Ahmedabad, Gujarat, being developed with a multi-phase master plan to ultimately handle 50 million passengers per annum. The 3,200-metre Code 4E runway is structurally finalised and ready.

This greenfield aviation hub represents far more than regional infrastructure. With a master plan spanning 1,426 hectares—roughly the size of 2,000 football fields—it is one of the largest greenfield airport sites in India. The airport is being developed to serve India's first planned greenfield smart city—Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR)—and to decongest the increasingly busy Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at Ahmedabad.

Construction progress has accelerated dramatically. Runway work, terminal foundations, and cargo facilities are in progress. In January 2024, DIACL awarded a ₹333 crore EPC contract to Ahmedabad-based Yashnand Engineers and Contractors, with the scope including construction of a new integrated passenger terminal building, air traffic control tower, cargo complex, and environmental support services, with a construction deadline of 18 months.

The airport will unlock transformative economic potential for Gujarat's industrial corridor. The airport perfectly aligns with the needs of massive upcoming industries in Dholera, such as EV manufacturing, drones, aviation parts, semiconductors, defense production, and heavy engineering. The Ahmedabad–Dholera expressway was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 31 March 2026, dramatically improving connectivity.

Phase 1 construction was completed in December 2025, and the airport is now moving into licensing, calibration, and operational trial stages. Calibration flights are scheduled between January and February 2026, while full operational trials are expected to begin around March 2026. This phased approach ensures the airport meets international aviation standards while matching actual demand growth.

For investors tracking real estate opportunities near Dholera, timing matters. Much of the "airport effect" on prices tends to be priced in before operations begin, not after, with investors who entered Dholera in 2015–2020 capturing the largest share of the appreciation driven by the airport announcement and construction progress, while investors entering in 2026 are buying at a higher base—but still before the airport generates its first commercial revenue, which is when institutional demand and supply chain investment typically accelerate. The infrastructure is no longer theoretical—it is under active construction and rapidly approaching operational readiness.