The Indian government has set aside $30bn in funding to develop the country’s airport infrastructure over the next 10 years, fruitnet.com reports.

The funding will be allocated as part of a public-private partnership model and be used to modernise existing airports and build new ones.

The first phase of investment will focus on building connectivity to metro cities, while the second phase will develop airports connecting these metro areas with second and third tier cities.

India has seen the total number of operational airports in the country grow from 50 in 2000 to 82 in 2010. Passenger handling capacity during this period increased from 66m to 235m, while air cargo volumes increased to 4.5m tonnes in 2010 compared with 3m tonnes in 2002.