Yamuna authority to fund study of Jewar airport land
The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has, in principle, agreed to fund an obstacle limitation survey (OLS) of the airport site.
The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has, in principle, agreed to fund an obstacle limitation survey (OLS) of the airport site.
In the OLS, the authority will list details of overhead electricity lines, religious sites, minarets, big old trees, highrise buildings, ponds, rivers and wildlife habitat pertaining to the site for the proposed airport.
YEIDA officials on Tuesday evening received a letter from the department director of Uttar Pradesh civil aviation, Devendra Swarup, asking the authority to provide funds for OLS.
“We have, in principle, agreed to pay Rs1.25 crore for OLS, which will be conducted by experts. We will complete the formalities for this survey. It is an important exercise for setting up the airport,” a YEIDA official said.
Besides conducting an OLS, a team from the Uttar Pradesh civil aviation department will also meet YEIDA chief executive officer (CEO) Arun Vir Singh to discuss issues pertaining to the airport’s location, land and hurdles in the way of the project.
“There are clear directions from the UP government to expedite the work on the airport project. Once OLS is done and other clearances obtained, we will begin acquiring land. We have already earmarked 5,000 acres for the project,” Singh said.
In 2001, the then UP chief minister and current Union home minister Rajnath Singh had proposed a Greenfield Taj International Airport and Aviation Hub (TIAH) in Jewar. However, the project failed to take off in 16 years due to changes in governments at the Centre and the state.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on April 7 directed officials to expedite work on the project. “The chief minister has instructed all officials concerned to coordinate with the civil aviation ministry to get necessary approvals so that the project can be completed at the earliest,” a YEIDA official.
Officials said that it is likely that the project will be executed this time as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in power at the Centre and the state. Officials said that an airport will help in economic growth.