The Union Cabinet has approved a Rs 2,869.65 crore proposal for the expansion of Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi.

The development of the airport in Varanasi, which is the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, includes the construction of a new terminal building, extension of the apron and runway, a parallel taxi track and other allied works, informed I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw after the Cabinet meeting.

The proposal by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), with an estimated expenditure of Rs 2,869.65 crore, aims to enhance the passenger handling capacity of the airport to 9.9 million passengers per annum (MPPA) from the existing 3.9 MPPA.