Delhi's second airport at Noida put on fast track by civil aviation ministry

New Delhi: The ministry of civil aviation has received a techno-feasibility study and project report from the State Government of Uttar Pradesh for setting up an airport at Greater Noida. After taking the report into consideration, the ministry has assured the State Government that it would require approximately three months to get an 'in-principle' approval for the airport from the Government of India under the prevailing circumstances.

The proposal for setting up an airport at Grater Noida was first received by the ministry from the Uttar Pradesh Government in 2001 and the technical approval for the selected site, was conveyed to the Ministry in 2003.

The proposed site, the Taj International Aviation Hub, is nearly 72 kms from Delhi and 120 kms from Agra. Approximately 1500 hectares of land had been identified for the construction of the project. The project cost is estimated at Rs3,505 crore ($864.57 million).

The Taj Expressway Authority will be nominated as the sponsor of the project and the land acquisition will be done in accordance with the policy of the UP Government.

The project will be a joint venture with private players owning 74% and the Uttar Pradesh government and other State-run firms owning 13% each.