10 new airports coming soon in Madhya Pradesh; plan includes helipads in all 230 assembly seats

Madhya Pradesh is preparing for one of its biggest aviation pushes in years. The state government has set a target of an airport every 150 km, an airstrip every 75 km, and a helipad every 45 km, covering the entire state from major cities down to remote districts. Alongside this, permanent helipads are planned in all 230 assembly constituencies, according to a TOI report.

The expansion falls under the state's Civil Aviation Policy 2025. Officials say the plan is not just about air travel for passengers, it also ties into faster emergency medical response, a bigger push for tourism, and new international flight links from the state.

How Many Airports Will Madhya Pradesh Have

At present, Madhya Pradesh has eight operational airports, more than 20 airstrips, and around 220 helipads already in place. Two more airports, at Ujjain and Shivpuri, are currently under development. Once both open, the total count will rise to ten. Five additional airport proposals are also sitting with the Centre for approval, with Singrauli given priority among them.

Which Cities Already Have Airports
Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Khajuraho were the five airports running in 2023-24. Rewa, Datia and Satna joined the list in 2024-25, taking the active number to eight. Officials expect Ujjain and Shivpuri to push that figure to ten over the coming months.

Which Districts Will Get New Airports Next
Ten existing airstrips across the state have been proposed for an upgrade into full airports under the central government's UDAN scheme. These include Singrauli, Sagar, Neemuch, Chhindwara, Mandla, Khandwa, Ratlam, Mandsaur, Umaria and Shahdol. The idea behind this is simple, officials say the upgrades will cut down how much remote districts depend on road and rail links, especially areas with tourism and industrial potential that currently stay cut off from quick transport.

Why Is Ujjain Getting A New Airport Now
A new airport coming up in Ujjain, known as the Datana Matana airport, is being developed under the RCS UDAN 5.2 scheme and is expected to play a central role during Simhastha 2028. The first phase will carry a runway stretching 1,800 metres, with room to extend it further to 2,700 metres later. Given the scale of footfall expected during Simhastha, officials see this airport as a priority project on the current list.

Will This Make Government Travel Cheaper
The state government is also moving to acquire its own aircraft, a step meant to end its reliance on chartered planes for official travel. Officials expect this to bring down monthly air travel spending to roughly a third of what it costs right now. A dedicated aircraft would be used for both routine official trips and emergency operations going forward.

How Will This Help During Medical Emergencies
The PM Shri Air Ambulance Service, launched on May 29, 2024, has already transported 186 patients and accident victims since it began. Ayushman cardholders can use the service completely free of cost to reach government and Ayushman empanelled hospitals, both within the state and outside it. For families in far off districts, a service like this often cuts down hours of travel time during medical emergencies.

Which Tourist Spots Will Benefit From This
Tourism is getting its own dedicated air push too. The PM Shri Heli Tourism Service currently connects destinations such as Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Chanderi, Orchha, Maihar, Chitrakoot, Kanha and Bandhavgarh. More than 5,200 passengers have used the service so far, and over 680 joy rides have been conducted at Chanderi and Orchha alone. Religious sites, wildlife parks and heritage towns are all part of the current route map, giving tourists a quicker way to hop between locations that would otherwise take hours by road.

Flying Abroad Directly From Madhya Pradesh
International connectivity has expanded as well. Indore now runs direct flights to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Indore-Abu Dhabi route holds particular importance since it is the first international flight from Madhya Pradesh to be supported under the new Civil Aviation Policy 2025. The journey takes around three hours and fifteen minutes, and officials expect it to strengthen business, trade and tourism links between the state and the Gulf region.

What Is The Larger Goal Behind This Expansion
Officials describe this expansion as an effort to build an aviation network that goes beyond the state's major cities, bringing airports, airstrips and helipads closer to individual districts and assembly constituencies. With Simhastha 2028 drawing closer, the government expects the combined growth in airport infrastructure, air ambulance coverage and heli tourism routes to serve tourists, pilgrims, patients and emergency responders alike across Madhya Pradesh.

Inputs from TOI