AAI’s ₹3,490 Crore Upgrade: The Future of Indian ATM

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has earmarked ₹3,490 crore for upgrading air navigation infrastructure nationwide, including ₹1,532 crore dedicated to automating Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems at airports. AAI functions as India’s sole Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP).

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol recently informed the Lok Sabha that the investment will be deployed between 2026 and 2028 to modernise Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance / ATM (CNS/ATM) systems across multiple airports. The remaining allocation will support upgrades of additional CNS/ATM equipment to enhance operational efficiency and safety.

The move follows a technical glitch in November that disrupted flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, underscoring the need for resilient and advanced air traffic systems.

Separately, AAI has issued a Request for Proposal to Indian Institute of Technology Madras to serve as a consultant for strengthening its cyber security framework across Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) systems. The consultancy will cover the design of a comprehensive cyber security architecture and an assessment of manpower requirements for cyber security functions throughout AAI.

The minister also noted that AAI has filled 2,341 technical executive-level positions over the past three years to maintain high safety standards and ensure uninterrupted service delivery.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.