Over the past 12 years, India's civil aviation sector has witnessed unprecedented growth. Guided by the vision of making air travel accessible, affordable, safe and seamless, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has transformed the aviation landscape through infrastructure development, digital innovation, enhanced connectivity and passenger-centric initiatives.

This transformation is clearly reflected here at Chennai Airport, and in the spirit of these achievements we are celebrating Yatri Suvidha Diwas.

Over the last decade, Chennai Airport has evolved into a modern, world-class gateway serving millions of passengers from across India and around the world. The commissioning of the New Integrated Terminal marked a major milestone in our journey, significantly enhancing passenger handling capacity, operational efficiency and the overall travel experience while celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu through its design and architecture.

Today, Chennai Airport is equipped with modern passenger processing systems, expanded check-in and security facilities, improved baggage handling systems and enhanced accessibility features. These developments have enabled us to serve passengers more efficiently while maintaining high standards of safety, security and comfort. Our continued focus on operational excellence has also contributed to improved on-time performance, ensuring a smoother and more reliable travel experience for passengers.

Passenger convenience remains at the heart of everything we do. Chennai Airport has embraced digital transformation through the implementation of DigiYatra, enabling passengers to experience seamless and contactless travel. Across the country. DigiYatra is operational at 38 airports and has facilitated over 10 crore passenger journeys, setting new benchmarks for efficiency and convenience.

We have also introduced several passenger-focused initiatives that enhance the airport experience. The Udan Yatri Café offers quality refreshments at affordable prices, making air travel more accessible to all sections of society. The Flybrary initiative encourages reading and book sharing among travellers, while dedicated Kids' Zones provide families with a more comfortable and enjoyable airport experience.

Chennai Airport has also strengthened its commitment to accessibility and inclusivity by continuously improving facilities for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and passengers requiring special assistance. Our objective is to ensure that every traveller experiences a smooth and dignified journey through our airport.

The growth of Chennai Airport mirrors the broader progress of Indian aviation. During this period, the number of operational airports in the country has increased from 74 to 165. Through the UDAN scheme, 669 routes have been operationalised across 95 airports, bringing the benefits of air connectivity to previously underserved regions and making aviation a catalyst for economic growth and national integration.

Connectivity is one of Chennai Airport's greatest strengths. The airport enjoys seamless multimodal connectivity through Chennai Metro Rail, the suburban railway network at Tirusulam, and direct access to the national highway network. This integrated transportation ecosystem enables passengers to travel to and from the airport with greater ease and efficiency while supporting sustainable urban mobility.

India has also emerged as a global leader in several areas of aviation. More than 15 percent of Indian pilots are women, significantly higher than the global average. The country's MRO ecosystem has expanded substantially, aviation training capacity has increased through Flying Training Organisations across the country, and GIFT City is rapidly developing as an aircraft leasing hub.

Sustainability remains a key pillar of our growth strategy. Across India, 100 airports are operating on 100 percent green energy and major airport hubs have achieved carbon neutrality. Chennai Airport remains committed to supporting these national objectives through responsible resource management and environmentally sustainable airport operations.

The airport has implemented several green initiatives including the promotion of electric vehicle usage, efforts towards maintaining a single-use plastic-free environment, the incorporation of skylights to maximise natural lighting, and the utilisation of solar power as part of its commitment to cleaner energy sources and reduced carbon emissions.

The efforts undertaken by Chennai Airport have earned recognition from tourism and aviation bodies, reflecting our commitment to service excellence, passenger satisfaction and continuous improvement. These recognitions inspire us to further strengthen our role as one of India's leading aviation gateways.

As we celebrate Yatri Suvidha Diwas today, we recognise that every infrastructure project, every digital initiative and every service enhancement has a single purpose: improving the passenger journey.

The achievements of the past 12 years demonstrate the remarkable progress of Indian aviation and the important role that airports such as Chennai play in connecting people, supporting economic growth and delivering world-class passenger experiences.

On behalf of Chennai Airport, I thank our passengers, airline partners, stakeholders, employees and members of the media for their continued support and trust.

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TV/RJ

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