“The Aerotropolis model will bring together businesses, logistics, and transportation in a cohesive whole and drive economic growth in India,” says Jaideep Mirchandani
From Amsterdam’s Schiphol to South Korea’s Incheon and the Memphis International Airport in the United States, the Aerotropolis Model is demonstrating how a metropolitan subregion with an airport at its core can catalyse economic development. The term that fuses the words ‘aero’ (aviation) and ‘metropolis’ has redefined the connection between airports and bustling cities. The seamless integration between the two could well become normative in urban planning in India as well.
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In 2023, an aerotropolis in the vicinity of Noida International Airport, covering a sprawling 6,500 acres was announced. On completion, it will offer commercial, residential, and recreational infrastructure and is slated to encompass business parks as well as housing complexes. It is also expected to spur economic growth and generate employment opportunities in the region. The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has also initiated developmental work to develop a 5,500-acre Aerotropolis by April 2025. It is in close proximity to the international airport as well as the Aero City and IT City townships of GMADA.
The Chairman of UAE-based aviation conglomerate Sky One, Jaideep Mirchandani believes India is on the right track since, all over the world, the Aerotropolis concept is being adopted to integrate transport hubs with many facets of urban development. He adds, “Aerotropolis models offer increased connectivity and coalesce aviation as well as non-aviation related businesses to re-energise the economy. A strategically located multimodal Aerotropolis on completion evolves into a logistical hub to facilitate trade, seamless transportation, passenger and cargo flow as well as tourism. It could also offer recreational and entertainment opportunities as well as medical and wellness centres. It could also serve as a repository of cultural and social diversity.”
Chairman
Sky One
Commenting on whether these mega-projects will also need to blend cutting-edge technological innovations with sustainability goals to nurture the environment and the well-being of local populations, he adds, “Global aviation needs smart technologies but as we leverage them to enhance operational efficiency, we must also ensure that the new urban ecosystems we create are socially responsible and sustainable.” He also underscores the importance of renewable energy sources, the conservation of water, the preservation of biodiversity and responsible waste management. He says, “The success of an Aerotropolis will also depend on how well it is serving the needs of the local population and if it is bridging economic disparity rather than deepening it.”
India is fast growing as an aviation powerhouse and Mirchandani is convinced that the Aerotropolis is a future forward model that will bring together businesses, logistics, and transportation in a cohesive whole, drive economic growth as well as infrastructural development. “Be it Delhi, Noida, Mohali or Sujalaam Skycity in West Bengal, or other proposed Aerotropolis projects in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, India is well on its way to the multimodal urban development of innovative ‘Global Business Districts (GBDs).’ My hope is that they will integrate technology with sustainability and focus on environmental management while also yielding tremendous economic benefits,” he concludes.
