India’s Aviation Ecosystem Prepares for Viksit Bharat 2047 with a Future-Ready Vision

In the run-up to the Inter Passenger Terminal Show (IPTS) 2025, Media Fusion LLC hosted media roundtable in Mumbai, bringing together senior voices from government, aviation, and infrastructure sectors. Centred around the theme “Reimagining Airport Passenger Infrastructure through Innovation, Technology, and Sustainability,” the discussion offered insights into shaping India’s aviation future in line with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

India, now the third-largest domestic aviation market, supports 7.7 million jobs and contributes 1.5% to the nation’s GDP. With over 85 new airports developed in the past decade and a roadmap to reach 350 by 2047, stakeholders agreed on the urgent need to build smarter, greener, and more resilient infrastructure.

The distinguished panel included:

• Joseph Gouda, Joint Director, Indian Revenue Service

• Sumeet Suseelan, Member, Ministry of Civil Aviation (AAC), Govt. of India

• Geetha Priya G, Senior Director – Infrastructure & Airports, JLL India

• Nitin Sharma, DVP – Business Development, dormakaba

• Vikram Falodiya, Head – Terminal Operations, Navi Mumbai International Airport

• Taher Patrawala, Managing Director, Media Fusion LLC

Key themes included reducing import dependency, accelerating regional air connectivity, and strengthening cybersecurity within digital airport ecosystems. India has already invested over $12 billion in air transport infrastructure and is targeting a $4 billion share of the global MRO market by 2031.

Experts spotlighted emerging technologies reshaping the sector—Digi Yatra, AI-driven digital twins, LEED-certified Net Zero terminals, and multimodal transit systems—marking a shift toward globally benchmarked passenger experiences.

Geetha Priya G emphasised resilient and modular design approaches for both greenfield and brownfield airport projects. “Early collaboration and adaptive infrastructure rooted in sustainability are vital to managing climate volatility, demographic shifts, and digital transformation,” she said.

Sumeet Suseelan spoke on the urgent need for talent development. “India must scale training capacity beyond airline-run programmes. By involving universities and private institutions, we can meet domestic demand and become a global hub for aviation talent.”

Nitin Sharma of dormakaba highlighted innovation in biometric travel, stating, “Digi Yatra is redefining how India—and now the world—thinks about seamless and secure air travel.”

Joseph Gouda stressed balancing passenger convenience with national security. “With AI, RFID, and data-driven interventions, customs clearance in Mumbai is already among the fastest globally—and we aim to reduce it further.”

A spokesperson from Navi Mumbai International Airport added that capacity expansion and coordinated policymaking are essential, noting, “Mumbai may require additional airports by 2040 to keep pace with demand.”

Taher Patrawala shared the vision behind IPTS: “We created IPTS to give India’s airport ecosystem its own global platform. In just 12 months, we’ve brought together over 60 exhibitors, 50 speakers from 10 countries, and more than 2,800 attendees.”

The roundtable also addressed human-centric goals—workforce empowerment, increasing women’s leadership in infrastructure, and the role of Indian startups in building agile, tech-first airport solutions.

Insights from this roundtable will inform key discussions at IPTS 2025, scheduled for June 11–12 in Mumbai, which will convene over 3,000 stakeholders across the aviation value chain.