MP aims to be national aviation model: CM Mohan Yadav's growth push
Synopsis
Madhya Pradesh is making a calculated bet on aviation as an economic multiplier. With 24,000 passengers already using Rewa's air services in six months, occupancy rates touching 85%, and the Ujjain airport under active development, CM Mohan Yadav's push to make MP a national aviation model is backed by early data — but the real test lies in private sector buy-in and last-mile helipad rollout.
Key Takeaways
CM Mohan Yadav chaired an Aviation Department review meeting in Bhopal on 30 April , targeting national-model status for MP in aviation.
The Ujjain airport is being developed across 95 acres with a 2,700-metre runway within a 4,100-metre development span.
Around 24,000 passengers used air services from Rewa in the past six months , with occupancy rates between 70–85% .
The PM Shri Heli Tourism Service is to be operationalised to boost religious and heritage tourism.
Higher education institutions directed to offer aviation courses under the NEP framework to generate skilled employment.
The Madhya Pradesh Civil Aviation Policy, 2025 , introduced in February last year , is reportedly showing early results.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday, 30 April declared that the state is targeting a position as a national role model in the aviation sector, stressing its role in strengthening regional connectivity and driving tourism growth. Speaking at a review meeting of the Aviation Department in Bhopal, Yadav said expanding air services would benefit passengers from remote areas, support neighbouring states, and energise the state's tourism economy.
Key Directives from the Review Meeting
Chief Minister Yadav directed officials to prioritise the construction of helipads in emerging metropolitan areas and key industrial hubs. He emphasised the need to rope in private players to accelerate heli-service expansion, arguing that improved last-mile connectivity would unlock access to remote and economically significant regions. He also called for the immediate operationalisation of the 'PM Shri Heli Tourism Service' to boost religious and heritage tourism across the state.
Ujjain Airport Project Under Review
The Chief Minister reviewed the progress of the Ujjain airport project and instructed officials to ensure timely completion of all ongoing works. The airport is being developed across 95 acres, with a planned runway length of 2,700 metres within a total development span of 4,100 metres. Officials were told that delays would not be acceptable given the site's strategic importance to religious tourism in the region.
Aviation Policy 2025 Showing Early Results
Yadav noted that the Madhya Pradesh Civil Aviation Policy, 2025, introduced in February last year, has begun yielding tangible results. Financial assistance is being extended to airlines to improve connectivity in under-served regions. Notably, around 24,000 passengers have used air services from Rewa over the past six months, with current flights connecting Rewa to Delhi, Raipur, and Indore. Occupancy rates across these routes range between 70 and 85 per cent, reflecting robust and growing demand for regional air travel.
Aviation Courses and Youth Employment
Highlighting the employment potential of a growing aviation sector, Yadav directed higher education institutions to promote aviation-related courses under the National Education Policy (NEP) framework.
Point of View
000 passengers in six months are credible early signals. But the gap between policy intent and infrastructure delivery remains wide: the Ujjain airport is still under construction, heli-services await private partners, and the PM Shri Heli Tourism Service is yet to be operationalised. The NEP-aviation linkage is an interesting idea, but training pipelines take years to yield pilots. The state's claim to 'national model' status will hinge on whether it can close these execution gaps faster than its peers.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Madhya Pradesh's aviation growth plan?
Madhya Pradesh aims to become a national role model in the aviation sector by expanding air and heli-services, completing the Ujjain airport, operationalising the PM Shri Heli Tourism Service, and promoting aviation education under the NEP framework. The plan is anchored in the Madhya Pradesh Civil Aviation Policy, 2025.
What is the current status of the Ujjain airport project?
The Ujjain airport is being developed across 95 acres with a planned runway length of 2,700 metres within a total development span of 4,100 metres. CM Mohan Yadav has directed officials to ensure timely completion of all ongoing works.
How many passengers have used Rewa's air services?
Around 24,000 passengers have used air services from Rewa over the past six months, with flights connecting Rewa to Delhi, Raipur, and Indore. Occupancy rates on these routes range between 70 and 85 per cent.
What is the PM Shri Heli Tourism Service?
The PM Shri Heli Tourism Service is a heli-tourism initiative that CM Yadav has directed officials to operationalise to promote religious and heritage tourism across Madhya Pradesh, including connectivity to destinations like Varanasi and Patna.
How does Madhya Pradesh plan to create aviation jobs for youth?
CM Yadav has directed higher education institutions in the state to introduce aviation-related courses under the National Education Policy framework, aiming to train pilots and skilled aviation personnel to meet rising demand as air services expand.
