Haryana's plans to set up a greenfield cargo airport moved another step forward with the ministry of defence (MoD) according site clearance for the proposed project. The union ministry of civil aviation had in 2011 sought site clearance from the MoD before proceeding on building a greenfield airport, that is, an airport built right from scratch at a new location.
“The defence clearance is a big step forward in our quest to have a greenfield airport. The matter will now go back to the steering committee on greenfield airports headed by Union Civil Aviation Secretary for consideration. The Committee has been set up to co-ordinate and monitor various clearances needed for setting up an airport,’’ said a Haryana official.
Officials said that MoD while according clearance took into account the location of the proposed airport to ensure that the proposed site did not fall within the restricted airspace. It also took into the account the kind of operations proposed from the greenfield airport, the effect of this operation on military aviation and security and intelligence implications before according clearance.
Haryana government had in 2010 filed an application with the Civil Aviation Ministry for formal approval of the project after the Airports Authority of India (AAI) which develops, finances, operates and maintains all government airports in the country okayed the proposed site.
The greenfield airport is proposed to come up on area of 2770 acres at the tri-junction of Rohtak, Hisar and Bhiwani districts and will be about 110 kilometres from New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). The identified land for the project includes Bhaini Maharajpur and Bhaini Bhairon villages in Rohtak, areas of Mundhal and Badesara in Bhiwani and Puthi village in Hisar. An AAI team had conducted an on the spot site inspection in June 2010.
{{/usCountry}}The greenfield airport is proposed to come up on area of 2770 acres at the tri-junction of Rohtak, Hisar and Bhiwani districts and will be about 110 kilometres from New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). The identified land for the project includes Bhaini Maharajpur and Bhaini Bhairon villages in Rohtak, areas of Mundhal and Badesara in Bhiwani and Puthi village in Hisar. An AAI team had conducted an on the spot site inspection in June 2010.
{{/usCountry}}The Steering Committee would consider the application for setting up of the greenfield cargo airport and take into account whether relevant approvals have been taken by the applicant. It will then make a recommendation to the Civil Aviation Ministry. The Civil Aviation Ministry will then decide on whether or not to grant approval for the airport project.
Haryana government has designated Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) as the nodal agency for its greenfield airport project.
As per the Union government’s policy on greenfield airports, such airports to be set up by the AAI would preferably be built through public private partnership (PPP). Though the state government can provide land for the development of a greenfield airport, the financing and development of the airport will be the responsibility of the airport company seeking a license in this regard.
Regarding land for the project, it can be directly purchased by the airport company or acquired by the state government. The state government can also apply to the DGCA for a license and would be responsible for the development and operation of the airport.
Also an entity of the state government can apply for a license to the DGCA. The state government or its entity can also select a private player to forge a joint venture (JV) company. The state also has an option of allotting land to a private airport company for its development and operation under a license from the DGCA.