Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner | Government of India | ||||||||||
| Operator | Airports Authority of India | ||||||||||
| Serves | Varanasi | ||||||||||
| Location | Babatpur,Varanasi district,Uttar Pradesh,India | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 270 ft / 82.30 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 25°27′08″N082°51′34″E / 25.45222°N 82.85944°E /25.45222; 82.85944 | ||||||||||
| Website | Varanasi Airport | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  VNS Location of airport in Uttar Pradesh Show map of Uttar Pradesh VNS VNS (India) Show map of India | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (April 2024 - March 2025) | |||||||||||
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| Source:AAI[1][2][3] | |||||||||||
Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport (IATA:VNS,ICAO:VEBN) is aninternational airport servingVaranasi,Uttar Pradesh,India. It is located atBabatpur,[4] 26 km (16 mi) northwest of Varanasi. Formerly known as Varanasi Airport, it was officially renamed afterLal Bahadur Shastri, the2ndPrime Minister of India, in October 2005.[5] It acquired its position in India's major airports after more than 4 million passengers used the airport in 2024-25.[1] It is the19th-busiest airport in India in terms of passenger movement, and the second-busiest airport in Uttar Pradesh. The airport was awarded as the best airport inAsia-Pacific in 2020 (2 to 5 million passengers per annum) byAirports Council International.[6] It is the first airport in India to make announcements inSanskrit language.[7]
An integrated terminal serves both domestic and international flights, with a floor area of 3,900 square metres (42,000 square feet).[8] The terminal features 16 check-in counters with CUTE (common-user terminal equipment), four immigration counters that double up as emigration counters, and two baggage-claim belts.[9] Besides an upper-level seating area for the aero-bridge gates, the terminal features a ground-level gate to reach other aircraft on the apron on foot, or via shuttle bus.[9] The apron can simultaneously park five narrow-body aircraft.[10] The waiting area features essential services for the passengers, besides snack stalls, a travellers' convenience store, a bookstore with a newsstand, and stores selling merchandise indigenous to Varanasi, such as Banarasi Saris; and a VIP waiting lounge.[11]
The airport features a single asphalt runway bearing 09/27. It is 9,006 feet (2,745 m) in length, with turnarounds on both ends, and two exits to the main apron.[9] A third, seldom-used exit leads to an isolated apron for use in emergency.[9]
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Due to increasing passenger traffic and aircraft movements theAirports Authority of India is planning to extend the runway to 4,075 m (13,369 ft) from the existing 2,750 m (9,020 ft). An underpass will be constructed as the expansion will intersect with National Highway 31.[25]
In November 2019, the Airports Authority of India came up with a proposal for a new second terminal, which will be completed by 2024. The total area of the terminal will be 58,691 m2 with passenger capacity of 4.5 million per year.[26]
On 20 October 2024, Prime MinisterNarendra Modi laid the foundation stone for several projects at the Airport, including the expansion of theairport runway, a newterminal building, and other allied works, totalling around ₹2,870 crore.[27][28]
Media related toLal Bahadur Shastri Airport at Wikimedia Commons
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