Gandhinagar: North Gujarat is set to get its first civilian airport after the Government of India has reportedly given in-principle approval for the conversion of the Deesa Air Force Station in Banaskantha into a joint civilian–military facility. It is learnt that an in-principle decision has been taken to allot 100 acres of land around the air force station for the development of the airport terminal, while the overall complex is expected to spread across nearly 4,500 acres. The additional land identified by the state government is strategically located and earmarked specifically for civilian aviation infrastructure.This will mark the first civilian airport in the North Gujarat region, addressing a long-pending demand. At present, residents of North Gujarat districts rely on the Ahmedabad airport for air connectivity.It is also noteworthy that the existing runway, measuring 3.3 kilometres, is already the longest in Gujarat, providing a strong foundation for civilian operations. The state government is also expected to make a dedicated budgetary provision for the project in the forthcoming state budget.The proposed airport is located about 18 km from Deesa city and enjoys strong road connectivity. The Jamnagar–Amritsar highway under the Bharatmala project lies around 35 km away, while the Ahmedabad–Tharad highway is at a similar distance. Officials added that the project is expected to benefit not only North Gujarat but also adjoining districts of Rajasthan by significantly improving regional air connectivity.