New Delhi: The government's push for regional connectivity may fast track its plans to construct a second airport in the National Capital Region (NCR) as the existing Indira Gandhi International Airport is likely to see an increased load.
At present, two proposals in this regard are under consideration of the Civil Aviation Ministry but a final decision on the issue is yet to be taken, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said.
Civil Aviation Ministry has at present two proposals -- one for Jewar and other for Bhiwadi (Rajasthan)-- under its consideration in this regard, he said.
Of the two proposals, one is from Uttar Pradesh government which has shown its willingness to construct an airport at Jewar in Gautam Budha Nagar (GB Nagar), Sharma's parliamentary constituency.
"Delhi airport along with other metro airports will see an increased load due to the (enhanced) regional connectivity. So, we will have to construct a new airport in NCR at the earliest," Sharma said at the release of the Draft Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) here.
Stressing that NCR will require another airport "sooner than anticipated", Sharma said "the need for a new airport, that we would have felt after 5-7 years from now, may be felt in the next three years."
The Ministry had received three proposals, one each from UP, Rajasthan and Haryana government to set up an airport at Jewar, Bhiwadi and Rohtak, respectively, he added.
"Haryana is, however, not following it up now. So, we have only two proposals Bhiwadi and Jewar," he said, adding that the new airport would be constructed at the appropriate site.
The Akhilesh Yadav-led Samjawadi Party government in UP had late last year announced setting up of a new international airport at Jewar. It had also said construction at the proposed airport will commence as soon as the state government gets all required approvals and clearances from the Centre.
The Ministry, however, received the proposal only in April this year.
"Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation, has received a proposal from government of Uttar Pradesh in April, 2016 for grant of site clearance for proposed Noida International Airport near Jewar, district Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh," Sharma had informed Parliament in May.
