UP pushes Rs.20, 000 cr airport project

In a major boost to the proposed Jewar International Airport project, estimated to cost Rs.20,000 crore, the UP government has appointed Yamuna Expressway as the nodal agency of the project and directed officials to expedite the land acquisition process for early launch of the ground work. The CM has also asked for selecting the consultant soon to prepare the detailed project report (DPR). Recently, the Centre had given in-principle approval to the proposed airport in Greater Noida, which is touted to serve the national capital region (NCR) and decongest the existing New Delhi airport once it becomes operational. It was conceived as an aviation hub and offering cargo and transit facilities for international connecting flights. Besides, the periphery was supposed to be developed as up-market commercial, residential, shopping and recreational hubs. The state government is also working towards upgrading 10 existing air strips, of which eight are under the state government control, while the remaining two — Jhansi and Saharanpur — come under the jurisdiction of the Defence ministry. At most places — Agra, Kanpur Chakeri, Bareilly, Lalitpur, Jhansi, Meerut, Faizabad, Moradabad, Aligarh, and Chitrakoot — the required land for expansion of the airstrips had already been provided.