No need for Noida airport, DIAL tells government

New Delhi: Responding to a cabinet proposal to build a new airport in Jewar, Noida, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), the joint venture that operates Delhi airport, has told the ministry of civil aviation that the expanded capacity of the modernised airport will take care of the entire traffic requirement in the 150-km catchment area around Delhi for the next 20 years. Jewar is 68 km from Delhi airport.
DIAL executives have pointed out that globally, a second airport in such close proximity comes up only when the first one is saturated. Otherwise, a second airport leads to two weak airports as well as huge additional costs in infrastructure development.
Delhi airport is being developed to cater to 100 million passengers a year against a current traffic flow of around 20 million passengers.
The airport is being developed at an investment of Rs 30,000 crore. The traffic and cargo forecast was drawn up for a 150-km catchment area when the bids were placed.
The government owns 26 per cent in DIAL through the Airports Authority of India, with Hyderabad-based GMR holding 50.1 per cent.
29/10/07 Surajeet Das Gupta/Business Standard

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Airports Oct 2007, New Oct 2007