Greater Noida: UP government assures Rs2,000 crore for airport land

YEIDA will play a crucial role in the airport project as it is tasked with acquiring farmers’ land for the project. Also, the authority has decided to get environmental clearances for the project by 2019. It needs around Rs2,000 crore to acquire nearly 1,000 hectares in the first phase. YEIDA has already identified 5,000 hectares for the entire project.

The Uttar Pradesh government has assured the chairman of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) of soon releasing Rs2,000 crore to acquire land for an international airport in Jewar along Yamuna Expressway.

The UP government is also expected to appoint a PCS official and a dedicated tehsildar, who will be tasked with acquiring land.(HT File Photo for representation)

Chairman Dr Prabhat Kumar met with the top officials of the Uttar Pradesh government at the industrial development department office in Lucknow on Thursday.

“The state government wants to fast-track work on the airport project. The government will start releasing Rs2,000 crore right after the state budget is decided. The date for the UP budget is not final but we expect that the funds for the airport project will be released soon,” said Kumar.

YEIDA will play a crucial role in the airport project as it is tasked with acquiring farmers’ land for the project. Also, the authority has decided to get environmental clearances for the project by 2019. It needs around Rs2,000 crore to acquire nearly 1,000 hectares in the first phase. YEIDA has already identified 5,000 hectares for the entire project.

“We will easily get the environmental clearance for the airport project because unlike Mumbai (Navi), there is no hill to be levelled to develop a runway. Developing a runway will be a much easier a job as the area is located among the plains along Yamuna Expressway,” said Kumar.

The UP government is also expected to appoint a PCS official and a dedicated tehsildar, who will be tasked with acquiring land.

“We are studying the obstacle limitation survey to identify villages that need to be shifted. There is one canal flowing through the land earmarked for the project. After a detailed study, we will sit together with civil aviation experts and identify the stretch. If the canal does not come in the way of the runway, we will not have to shift the same,” said Kumar.

“We need to study whether we can let it flow as it is, if it gives an aesthetic look and does not affect the airport project in any manner,” said Kumar.

The YEIDA will also acquire land for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility near the airport site. “The MRO project has been already been discussed with the Union civil aviation ministry experts in Delhi. We will acquire land for this project too,” said Kumar.