New Delhi: India’s Union Cabinet yesterday approved the proposal to declare Surat airport as an international airport.

“This strategic move promises to unlock unprecedented economic potential, making Surat a key player in the international aviation landscape and fostering a new era of prosperity for the region,” an official release said.

The decision was taken by the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Elevating Surat airport to international status is paramount for enhancing economic growth, attracting foreign investment, and bolstering diplomatic ties. With a surge in passenger traffic and cargo operations, the airport’s international designation will provide a crucial impetus for regional development,” the release said.

According to the Times of India, the Surat airport may be named after former prime minister the late Morarji Desai, who hailed from Valsad and had been elected from the Surat Lok Sabha constituency from 1957 to 1980.

Earlier in 2014, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had written a letter to PM Modi seeking that Surat airport be named after Morarji. Later in 2020, even MP Subramanian Swamy wrote a similar letter to PM Modi demanding Surat airport be named after Moraji Desai.