UP raises pitch for airport at Greater Noida

The Uttar Pradesh government has projected that 3.1 million people would use the proposed airport at Greater Noida in its first year. And according to its commissioned report, the number would touch 10.6 million in five years.

The Uttar Pradesh government has projected that 3.1 million people would use the proposed airport at Greater Noida in its first year. And according to its commissioned report, the number would touch 10.6 million in five years.

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The state government has raised the pitch for an airport in this NCR town, ahead of the meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) this month. The group is examining the viability of another airport in the national capital region.

According to the report, contrary to some arguments, the proposed airport would not eat into passenger traffic of Delhi airport.

Rather, it would increase as Greater Noida sets up connectivity in several new areas, which currently do not have a direct flight from Delhi, the report said.

The report, accessed by Hindustan Times, would be taken-up by the GoM.

Traffic at Greater Noida is projected to touch 27.9 million by 2021 and 48.9 million by 2026-27.

The techno-economic feasibility report, to assess the potential of setting up of an international airport, has been prepared by L&T-RAMBOLL Consulting Engineers

Limited engaged by the UP government.

As per the report, passenger traffic at Delhi airport without the Greater Noida airport would be 34.7 million by 2011-12. However, traffic is expected to be 35.8 million if an airport exists in Noida by then.

Projected traffic at the Noida airport during this period would be 3.1 million, which the report says would be 8.65% of the total NCR traffic.

What is holding back the Greater Noida airport is a 1997 rule that states that no new airport can be set-up within 150kms of an existing one. Greater Noida airport would be 72 km from the Delhi airport. The GMR-led consortium that operates Delhi airport has cited the 1997 rule in its opposition to the Greater Noida project.

However, the government has given approval for setting-up of Greenfield

airports for international operations in three states — Mopa in Goa, Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra and Kannur in Kerala — within the aerial distance of 150 kilometres of existing airports.