Nod for Maya airport project

New Delhi: Taking forward Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s pet project for a Taj International Aviation Hub (TIAH), the Civil Aviation Ministry has put its stamp of approval on a Cabinet note sent to the government, despite objections from the Finance Ministry. This has set the stage for what will now have to be a political decision since the Law Ministry has refused to put its comments on the note.
Justifying the need for a second airport in the National Capital Region, the Civil Aviation Ministry has backed the Mayawati government’s proposal citing unprecedented air traffic growth. At the heart of the matter is the 1997 airport infrastructure policy that does not permit development of a greenfield airport within 150 kilometre (aerial distance) of an existing airport. The UP government has proposed a site, Jevar, 68 km from the Delhi airport.
The GMR group, which has bagged the contract for modernisation of Delhi airport and will have the first rights for refusal in the bidding for TIAH, is now crying foul. The Civil Aviation Ministry, however, says there is scope for both to survive and compete.
16/11/07 Lucknow Newsline

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Categories: Airports Nov 2007, New Nov 2007