Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Maa Mahamaya Airport in Darima village, Surguja district, Chhattisgarh, under the UDAN initiative on Sunday. Built at a cost of Rs 80 crore, the airport spans 365 acres and is classified as a 3C VFR category facility, capable of handling aircraft with up to 72 passengers.

The expanded terminal is designed to accommodate approximately 500,000 passengers annually. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed that this airport fulfills a long-standing demand for air connectivity in the Surguja division and will significantly boost local development and tourism.

Key features of the airport include:

Improved access to major cities, making travel more economical and efficient for locals. Enhanced tourism and business opportunities in the Surguja area, with connections to cities such as Jabalpur, New Delhi, Kolkata, and Prayagraj. An expected increase in travel to the Surguja region as a result of the new air service. During his visit to Varanasi, PM Modi also inaugurated two additional airports under the UDAN scheme, located in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, and Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The combined passenger handling capacity of these three airports will exceed 2.3 crore passengers annually, with designs inspired by the region's heritage.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister laid the foundation for a new terminal building and runway expansion at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi, with an investment of around ?2,870 crore. He also launched the New Civil Enclave projects at Agra (valued at over ?570 crore), Darbhanga (approximately ?910 crore), and Bagdogra (around ?1,550 crore).