After revamping the country’s aviation landscape, Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia is focused on increasing the number of airports to over 200 in the next five years, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for bringing about monumental development. Excerpts from his conversation with The Sunday Guardian.

A: India is presently the third-largest domestic aviation market. India is the world’s fifth largest market for domestic and international flights. Over the next five years, the number of airports, heliports, and water aerodromes will exceed 200. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the number of airports in the country has expanded from 74 in 2014 to 149 today. Uttar Pradesh, for example, used to have only six airports, but now has ten, with the number expected to increase to 16 by the end of the year. Jewar International Airport in the state will also be operational by the end of the year. In the first quarter of the current calendar year, we will provide connectivity to five more airports.