Govt to consider GMR's case ahead of decision on GN airport
The Union Government on Wednesday said it will decide on setting up an airport at Greater Noida only after considering its contractual obligations with Delhi Airport developer GMR.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: The Union Government on Wednesday said it will decide on setting up an airport at Greater Noida only after considering its contractual obligations with Delhi Airport developer GMR.
"We have received a proposal from Uttar Pradesh government and the same is being examined. We will be taking into consideration the contractual obligations with the GMR group before taking any decision," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told reporters on the sidelines of an Assocham function here.
He was replying to questions on reservations expressed by GMR group about the viability of building a greenfield airport at Greater Noida, an upcoming suburb.
Patel said the Greater Noida airport may be taken to the Committee on Infrastructure for a final decision if at all the government was to accept Uttar Pradesh's proposal.
He said his ministry was aiming to have an airport after every 50 km in the country.
However, GMR, in its letter to the Civil Aviation Ministry, has contended that the present policy does not allow a new airport within an aerial distance of 150 km to the existing airport. The aerial distance between Delhi and the proposed site at Jewar in Greater Noida is only eight km.
The greenfield airport may be permitted only if the existing airport is unable to meet the traffic requirement. GMR also argues that the Delhi Airport is being developed to cater to 100 million passengers per annum as against the existing traffic of 20 million passengers a year.
The group also apprehends that it may be denied a level- playing field vis-a-vis the proposed Greater Noida airport in terms of performance standards.
"We have received a proposal from Uttar Pradesh government and the same is being examined. We will be taking into consideration the contractual obligations with the GMR group before taking any decision," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told reporters on the sidelines of an Assocham function here.
He was replying to questions on reservations expressed by GMR group about the viability of building a greenfield airport at Greater Noida, an upcoming suburb.
Patel said the Greater Noida airport may be taken to the Committee on Infrastructure for a final decision if at all the government was to accept Uttar Pradesh's proposal.
He said his ministry was aiming to have an airport after every 50 km in the country.
However, GMR, in its letter to the Civil Aviation Ministry, has contended that the present policy does not allow a new airport within an aerial distance of 150 km to the existing airport. The aerial distance between Delhi and the proposed site at Jewar in Greater Noida is only eight km.
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The greenfield airport may be permitted only if the existing airport is unable to meet the traffic requirement. GMR also argues that the Delhi Airport is being developed to cater to 100 million passengers per annum as against the existing traffic of 20 million passengers a year.
The group also apprehends that it may be denied a level- playing field vis-a-vis the proposed Greater Noida airport in terms of performance standards.
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