Delhi-NCR to get its 2nd international airport at Jewar

n what comes as a major respite from air traffic blues, the government, on Saturday, granted approval for a greenfield airport at Jewar in Greater Noida.

Civil Aviation minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that as passenger per annum was like likely to reach 109 million from the current 62 million, it was the need of the hour to have another airport at Delhi in seven to 10 years. "The UP government has already submitted a proposal for construction of a new Greenfield International Airport at Jewar in Greater Noida and the ministry of Civil Aviation has accorded in-principle approval for the project based on the recommendations of the steering committee on Greenfield Airports.

Located equidistant from IGI Airport and Hindon Air Force station Ghaziabad, the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) had been allotted to implement of the project. "An area of 3000 hectares – with four runways – has been notified for the airport, out of which 1000 hectares – with one runway – will be developed in the first phase with an estimated cost of Rs 10,000 crores," Raju further said, adding, "With a total cost of around Rs 20,000 crores, the airport will cater around 30-50 million passengers per year after its completion."

Echoing similar views, minister of State for civil aviation Jayant Sinha said that the airport is not only important for the NCR region but also for Western Uttar Pradesh. "Cities in this part of UP have a lot of potential in terms of air traffic and the Noida airport will help in providing seamless domestic and international connectivity to the region," he said, adding that the project would give a big boost to economic development in the region.