Jabua Airstrip

Abandonment due to economic non-viability and lack of purpose. The airstrip was built for infrequent government use and was not intended for commercial traffic. Without regular flights, the high cost of maintenance was not justified, leading to its neglect and eventual decay.

The site is non-operational and defunct as an airfield. Satellite imagery shows a single paved runway that is severely degraded, with numerous cracks, potholes, and significant vegetation growth. The runway markings are gone. The land is under the control of the state's Public Works Department (PWD) and is informally used by local residents as a road, for learning to drive, and occasionally for public gatherings or events. There is no aviation infrastructure like a terminal, hangar, or air traffic control.

Constructed around the late 1980s by the state government of Madhya Pradesh, the Jabua Airstrip's sole purpose was to facilitate the travel of government officials and VIPs/VVIPs to the remote, tribal-majority Jhabua district. It was designed to handle small charter aircraft and helicopters. It never hosted any scheduled passenger or cargo services and was not part of India's commercial aviation network.

There have been multiple discussions and proposals to revive the airstrip under the Indian government's Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN) to improve connectivity to the region. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has conducted preliminary surveys to assess the feasibility of developing the site for operations by small, 19-20 seater aircraft to connect Jhabua with major hubs like Indore and Bhopal. However, despite these recurring proposals over the years, the project has not moved beyond the planning and survey stage. As of now, there are no concrete plans or a definitive timeline for its redevelopment and reopening.