Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Thursday, 12 November 2026, performed the traditional bhoomi puja and laid the foundation stone for a new State Terminal building at Jaipur Airport, sanctioned at a total cost of ₹52.35 crore. The groundbreaking marks a significant step in the state's push to upgrade aviation infrastructure under a framework of heightened Centre-state coordination.

Ceremony and First Phase Details

At the ceremony, Chief Minister Sharma performed traditional rituals, offered purnahuti during the havan, and inspected an exhibition displaying scale models of the proposed terminal, along with site plans for the ground and first floors. The first phase of construction is estimated at ₹19.62 crore and will blend modern amenities with architectural elements drawn from Rajasthan's cultural heritage.

The facility is designed to include administrative offices, two VIP lounges, a conference hall, a meeting hall, 10 rest rooms, a training room, a café, and a security screening area. The second phase will add a hangar and tarmac for aircraft and helicopter parking, for which 12,778 square metres of land has already been allotted to the state government.

Broader Aviation Expansion Across Rajasthan

Sharma highlighted that air connectivity expansion is underway in Kota, Kishangarh, Barmer, and Bikaner. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a new terminal at Jodhpur Airport, boosting its annual passenger-handling capacity from 1.2 million to 2 million. Development work is also progressing at Jaipur and Kota airports.

Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) are now operational at Kishangarh Airport and the Hamirgarh airstrip in Bhilwara. Land has been allotted to set up new FTOs in Jhalawar, Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Sri Ganganagar. Separately, 145 acres of land are being provided for the expansion of Udaipur Airport.

Railway Investments Running Parallel

The Chief Minister also underscored momentum on the rail front, stating that ₹10,228 crore has been allocated in the current year's budget to expand and modernise rail connectivity. Railway projects worth more than ₹76,800 crore are currently under execution across the state, with 85 railway stations being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

Centre-State Coordination in Focus

Sharma noted that strong coordination between the Central and State governments has given fresh impetus to the transport sector, with air, rail, and road connectivity all receiving concurrent attention. This comes amid a broader national push to upgrade tier-2 and tier-3 city airports, with Rajasthan positioning itself as a key beneficiary given its tourism-driven aviation demand.

The new State Terminal at Jaipur Airport, once complete, is expected to ease passenger handling and add dedicated government and VIP operations capacity — a gap the existing terminal has struggled to address during peak travel seasons.