Uttar Pradesh again pushes for airport at Greater Noida
By IANSSaturday, June 12, 2010
LUCKNOW - Armed with stronger documentation, the Uttar Pradesh government has again approached the central government with its proposal to set up an international airport in Greater Noida town, an official said Saturday.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta Friday moved a fresh representation before the union civil aviation ministry seeking its clearance for setting up an international airport and aviation hub in Jewar village of Greater Noida, bordering the national capital.
Referring to the central government’s argument that a parallel international airport could not be allowed in the state within 150 km radius of the existing Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, Gupta told IANS Saturday: “We have sought to draw the union government’s attention to similar exemptions given in Goa and Cochin.”
“The ministry has already given its go-ahead for parallel international airports not very far from the existing terminals in Goa and Kochi,” he said.
In his letter to union Civil Aviation Secretary M. Madhavan Nambiar, the chief secretary pointed out: “We have also carried out a fresh techno-feasibility report, as per your advice.”
The report was prepared after a detailed survey by Larsen and Toubro - Ramboll Consulting Engineers Ltd. “The report clearly points out that the setting up of a new international airport at Jewar would have only a marginal impact on air traffic at Delhi airport,” Gupta said.
Besides relieving the pressure on Delhi airport, the proposed airport at Jewar is expected to be a boon for international tourists heading for Taj Mahal in Agra, he said.
“With the Taj Expressway likely to be completed this year, the driving time between Jewar and Agra would be reduced to less than an hour,” he claimed.
Earlier in February, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati sent a delegation of 24 party MPs to meat union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to push the state’s demand for the new aviation hub and airport.
