Commercial airport planned in Sonia’s hub before Greater Noida

New Delhi: In the run-up to crucial electoral battle in UP, Congress scion Rahul Gandhi seems to have established superiority in aerial artillery over rival and UP CM Mayawati. While Bahenji's dream Greater Noida airport is stuck in red tape, the Centre has decided to have a commercial airport in Sonia Gandhi's constituency.
The aviation ministry has decided that Airports Authority of India will extend the 6,000-ft-long runway at the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udaan Acedemy (IGRUA) at Rae Bareli to make it fit for bigger jets. And AAI will also construct a passenger terminal to have an airport to replace what is only a flying academy now.
The decision was taken on Saturday at IGRUA in a meeting that Rahul had with then aviation minister Vayalar Ravi ( Ajit Singh, also from UP, was sworn in as aviation minister on Sunday), aviation secretary Nasim Zaidi and other top officials. The runway is currently 6,000 ft which will be extended to 7,500 ft and then 9,000 ft in the second stage, said sources.
The estimated cost for the 7,500-ft runway and terminal is Rs 150 crore and it will cost another Rs 100 crore for expanding it, said sources.
19/12/11 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: airports Dec 2011, New Dec 2011