In politics over international airport in western UP, turbulence, airpockets

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Mahesh Sharma, however, seeks to differ. “My vision is clear, if we can have two airports in London or in Washington DC then in order to ease the load at Delhi International Airport, why cannot we have another international airport in its vicinity? Only an airport near NCR can solve the purpose rather than having one in Gorakhpur or elsewhere,” Sharma said talking to The Indian Express.

Sharma, who hails from Gutam Budh Nagar, further said he is “open to all the suggestions” but at the same time “I am ready to face all the hurdles in the way of establishing an airport in Jewar”.

The minister, who made it to the Union cabinet in this moth’s reshuffle, also claimed that it was not worthwhile for the UP government to pursue the case for an airport near Agra in Firozabad because they neither have the land nor the necessary clearance from the Ministry of Defence.

The UP government, however, is in no mood to accept an international airport project in Jewar, which had been aggressively promoted by previous BSP government in the state.

“For us the proposal of international airport near Agra stands as it is. Some time back, Chief Minister had also written a letter to Prime Minister to pursue the clearance from Union Minister of Defence for the international airport in Firozabad,” said Alok Ranjan UP Chief Secretary.

Apart from the airports in western UP, politics has also been played over Kushinagar Airport, first proposed by Mayawati government in 2008 as part of Buddhist Circuit. Initially, the project did not get environment clearance from then UPA government.

However, later after getting approval, UP government acquired about 550 acre land for the project but could not find developers as they felt the project lacked feasibility. Several changes have been made in the project and its cost reduced apart from getting clearance for viability gap funding of about 40 per cent, yet no developers have come forward for the project. Last week, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav wrote to Prime Minister to ensure that Airports Authority of India should take up the Rs 350 crore project. Speaking to The Indian Express, Sharma said Centre would consider UP government’s request to promote Buddhist Circuit. He said that he has already spoken to officers of AAI.