AAI to invest ₹15,000 cr by 2028 to modernise ATC, navigation systems

Amid growing concerns over aviation safety and a spate of recent air incidents, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will invest ₹15,000 crore by 2028 to modernise air traffic control (ATC) automation, navigational systems and other critical infrastructure to make them future-ready, AAI Chairman Vipin Kumar said on Wednesday. The investment comes at a time when India’s airspace is witnessing rapid growth in traffic, putting pressure on ageing systems and manpower.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Wings India 2026, Kumar said the authority has carried out a comprehensive assessment of every airport, ATC tower and technical power system across the country, examining the age, remaining life and safety relevance of existing equipment. Based on this exercise, a detailed roadmap has been prepared to upgrade systems by the end of 2028 , with the objective of aligning India’s air navigation and control framework with global standards .

The ₹15,000-crore investment will be utilised to upgrade ATC tower automation, replace obsolete communication, navigation and surveillance systems, strengthen technical power infrastructure, and deploy advanced decision-support tools for air traffic controllers. The modernisation programme will focus on automation, real-time aircraft tracking, conflict detection, improved airspace management and weather surveillance, aimed at reducing human error and preventing incidents.

AAI officials said the upgrades will also ensure greater redundancy in critical systems, a key safety requirement highlighted after past ATC disruptions at major airports that led to widespread flight delays and operational strain. Several tenders for these projects have already been floated.

As part of the broader safety push, the modernisation of ATC and surveillance systems is expected to support stronger accident investigation capabilities by improving the availability and accuracy of flight data and radar records, helping strengthen the functioning of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) .

Replying to a query, Kumar said the entire investment will be funded through internal accruals , without resorting to borrowing. AAI is expected to post revenues of around ₹22,000 crore in the current financial year, similar to last year, though he said this should still be viewed as growth due to a one-time financial advantage recorded earlier.

With passenger numbers and aircraft movements continuing to rise, aviation experts say sustained investment in technology and safety systems will be critical to ensuring that India’s aviation sector remains safe and resilient.