New airport on Jaipur-Delhi highway

Jaipur: It's a project that promises to change the fortune of this desert state. Talks are at an advanced stage for a greenfield airport on the Jaipur-Delhi highway. The project is a bid to help decongest the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
According to government sources, "To avoid the congestion at Delhi airport, a proposal was mooted for a second airport. But none of the states, like Uttar Pradesh or Haryana, was able to provide land, as a result, Rajasthan bagged the project."
"As per rules, no airport can come up within a distance of 60 km from Jaipur and 120 km from Delhi. Therefore, the proposed site had to be on the Jaipur-Delhi highway at a place called Shahpura which is about 65 km from Jaipur," he added.
The airport is being promoted by a private player. "Obviously they have the necessary understandings and clearances from the Airport Authority of India and all other departments concerned at the Centre," said officials. A few rounds of talks have been held between the state government and the private party, they added.
If things proceed on the expected lines, the state government will sign the memorandum of understanding with the party soon. The proposed investment for the airport is around of Rs 4,500 crore.
The official said primarily the airport will be used for cargo and chartered flights.
01/09/09 Anindo Dey & Rachna Singh/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Sep 2009, New Sep 2009