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Connectivity Challenges in Amravati: Gaps in Transport, Internet, and Power

Connectivity Challenges in Amravati: Gaps in Transport, Internet, and Power
Connectivity Challenges in Amravati: Gaps in Transport, Internet, and Power

Amravati is a significant urban centre in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, and yet it faces persistent obstacles in connectivity that impact daily life and economic activities.


Despite its growing importance as a textile hub and commercial city, the absence of seamless infrastructure in key areas continues to slow down progress.

While other cities have managed to integrate transport, digital services, and power networks efficiently, Amravati struggles with gaps that make everyday operations more difficult for businesses, students, and residents.



The limitations are not isolated to one sector. Air travel has remained restricted due to long delays in airport expansion, making access to major cities inconvenient.

Digital connectivity, although improving, still lacks universal coverage, leaving many parts of the city with inadequate internet services. Power supply, a fundamental requirement for any developing city, presents inconsistencies that affect industries and essential services.

These factors together shape Amravati’s current reality, creating barriers that influence economic growth and daily convenience.


Air Travel Delays and Limited Regional Connectivity

 

For years, Amravati has been dealing with the absence of a fully operational airport, restricting fast and efficient air travel.


The Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Amravati Airport, which was expected to strengthen regional air links, has been stuck in a cycle of incomplete development.


Land acquisition for the airport was finalised in 2013, but major infrastructure work did not progress until 2019, resulting in years of delays.

Currently, the airport features a 1,850-metre-long runway and a 2,600-square-metre terminal, making it suitable only for smaller aircraft. This restricts its ability to handle larger commercial flights that could establish stronger links with major business and tourist destinations.


As of March 2025, commercial flights are expected to commence by July-August 2025, with an initial route to Mumbai. There are also discussions around introducing a flight to Ahmedabad, which could improve trade between the two textile hubs.



Further upgrades have been planned, including extending the runway to 2,500 metres and installing night landing facilities. These modifications aim to make the airport capable of handling Airbus A-320 aircraft, increasing both passenger and cargo capacity.


However, these improvements are still in progress, and until they are completed, Amravati’s air connectivity remains limited.

A larger challenge tied to regional air travel is the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, introduced by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to improve accessibility to smaller cities.

Although the scheme aimed to enhance regional airports, only a fraction of the planned airports have become operational since 2014.


Reports indicate that while 74 airports were constructed under the initiative, only 11 greenfield airports are actively functional. A major hurdle is the economic viability of these routes, without consistent demand, maintaining operations becomes difficult for airlines, even with government subsidies.


For Amravati, this means that air connectivity improvements depend not only on airport upgrades but also on sustained passenger numbers.


If flights do not attract enough travellers, airline companies may discontinue services, further limiting access.


Internet Access and Digital Limitations

 

Access to high-speed internet has become essential for modern businesses, education, and healthcare. In Amravati, while improvements have been made, digital connectivity remains uneven across different parts of the city. Some areas benefit from reliable broadband, while others still struggle with slow or unstable connections.


One of the most notable improvements has come from JioFiber, which has expanded its broadband services in the city. With speeds reaching up to 1 Gbps, this has provided a significant upgrade for households and businesses that depend on stable connections.



Despite this progress, digital accessibility is still not universal. Affordability remains a concern, with JioFiber’s basic plans starting at Rs. 399. While this makes high-speed internet more accessible to many, some residents in less developed areas find it difficult to afford these services.

Additionally, coverage varies depending on the locality, with some neighbourhoods experiencing weaker connectivity due to infrastructure gaps.


For businesses, the lack of seamless digital access creates limitations. Many industries now rely on cloud computing, digital marketing, and e-commerce, all of which demand fast and stable internet.


Educational institutions require strong broadband connections for online learning, research, and administrative operations. Telemedicine, an increasingly important service, depends entirely on uninterrupted internet.



These challenges highlight the need for wider internet coverage across the city. While the introduction of modern broadband services has addressed some issues, gaps remain in ensuring that digital access is consistent across different sections of Amravati.


Power Supply and Its Impact on Infrastructure


Electricity is a fundamental requirement for urban development, directly affecting industries, businesses, and daily conveniences. In Amravati, power supply plays a crucial role in supporting air travel, digital services, and general infrastructure.


The city’s power transmission network is managed by Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL), which maintains 5,526.62 Circuit Kilometres (CKM) of transmission lines and 60 substations, with a total transformation capacity of 8,162.5 MVA.

This extensive network is part of Maharashtra’s overall electricity grid, ensuring energy distribution to homes, industries, and commercial hubs.


However, reliability remains a key concern. While official records do not specify frequent outages, inconsistent power supply is often a challenge in developing regions.


Fluctuations in electricity can disrupt essential services, including internet providers and mobile networks. Even minor disruptions can affect telecommunications infrastructure, leading to connectivity issues for residents and businesses.


For industries, particularly those in manufacturing and textiles, uninterrupted power is essential. Any inconsistencies in electricity supply can slow down production, increase costs, and affect business operations.


The textile sector, which is a key part of Amravati’s economy, requires stable power for machinery and automation processes.

Similarly, IT services, banking institutions, and educational facilities all depend on steady electricity to function smoothly.


The interdependence between power supply and other sectors further highlights the importance of a robust and uninterrupted energy network. Without a steady power supply, improvements in air travel and digital connectivity can be negatively impacted, limiting the overall progress of the city.


The Broader Impact of Limited Connectivity

The Broader Impact of Limited Connectivity
The Broader Impact of Limited Connectivity

The challenges in air travel, digital infrastructure, and electricity supply create a cumulative effect that influences Amravati’s economic and social landscape. Without efficient connectivity, businesses face higher operational costs, trade opportunities become limited, and everyday life becomes more complicated for residents.


Limited air travel means longer travel times and higher costs for those who need to connect with commercial hubs like Mumbai, Pune, or Ahmedabad.

It also affects tourism, as travellers often prefer destinations that offer direct and reliable transport options. For industries, the lack of efficient cargo transportation makes logistics expensive and less convenient.


The digital divide impacts educational institutions, businesses, and remote workers who rely on strong internet connections.



Without universal broadband access, students and professionals face difficulties in keeping up with modern academic and workplace demands.

Businesses that operate online struggle to maintain efficiency, and digital services such as telemedicine remain out of reach for those in areas with weaker connectivity.


Electricity concerns create underlying challenges that affect all sectors. Frequent power disruptions, even minor ones, slow down industries, affect telecommunications, and make modern services harder to sustain. When different sectors rely on one another, any limitation in one area amplifies difficulties across the board.


Each sector plays a crucial role in supporting the other, making it necessary for infrastructure to evolve in a way that meets the needs of a developing urban centre. Until these gaps are addressed, challenges in accessibility, efficiency, and opportunity will remain a part of Amravati’s landscape.



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The NewsDirt is a trusted source for authentic, ground-level journalism, highlighting the daily struggles, public issues, history, and local stories from Vidarbha’s cities, towns, and villages. Committed to amplifying voices often ignored by mainstream media, we bring you reliable, factual, and impactful reporting from Vidarbha’s grassroots.

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