In Agra-Mathura stretch, SP govt plans international airport

[अर्णब् मुखर्जी]

In last 10 years, the proposed airport location moved from Greater
Noida --> Jewar --> Meerut ---> Mathura.
Playing 'Airport' tune again, to sell land in and around Mathura /
Agra now...

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In Agra-Mathura stretch, SP govt plans international airport
Maulshree Seth : Lucknow, Sat Apr 21 2012, 02:43 hrs

The UP government is exploring the possibility of setting up an
international airport between Agra and Mathura — in what could mean
the end of the road for the Taj international airport proposed during
the previous Mayawati regime.

Officials believe an airport between Agra and Mathura is a far better
idea than the Taj international airport and aviation hub, proposed at
Jewar near Delhi, and which is still awaiting clearance by the Centre.

The idea came up at a meeting called by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav
on Thursday to discuss infrastructure development in the two tourism
cities.

A senior officer said: “Unlike the other proposed projects, this one
is expected to find takers at all levels for three reasons. First, it
is not in the vicinity of any existing airport, so there won’t be
objections on that front. Second, the footfall of international and
domestic tourists in Agra and Mathura cannot be questioned. Third, the
existing good connectivity of road with the national capital region
adds to its feasibility.”

Congress MLA from Mathura Pradeep Mathur, who was invited by the CM to
the meeting, was also impressed. “It is a much more feasible idea. I
have proposed it to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh as well.
He has asked the departments concerned to prepare the concept report
and I have promised to pursue it with the Centre.” Sources in the
government said the tourism department had been asked to prepare the
concept report and submit it by this weekend.

At present, there are two proposed international airports in UP but
the future of both looks uncertain.

One is the Jewar project that got the Centre’s in-principle approval
in 2003. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had constituted a group of
ministers to look into this but it did not reach any decision. A major
objection to the project was that it is located within a 150 km radius
of the existing Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.

The other, the Kushinagar international airport project, has been
cleared by the Centre at all levels, but the UP Government found it
difficult to convince the private players of its viability. It was
proposed to be part of the Buddhist Circuit, and there was a proposal
to arrange viability gap funding, but still the project failed to take
off.

There is an existing airport in Kheira area of Agra which is
controlled by the Indian Air Force. At present, international and
domestic flights coming to Agra land here, but there have been
problems. For example, last year, the Ministry of Defence decided to
take up renovation work during the peak tourist season.


http://www.indianexpress.com/news/in-agramathura-stretch-sp-govt-plans-international-airport/939650/0

[Safal Suri]

 

Interesting!

 

Few points...

 

1. Is this another ploy... similar to “International Airport at Meerut”?

 

2. What happens to Supreme Court’s judgment regarding removal of sources of air pollution, within 50 km range of the Taj? Can the central government ignore it? Therefore, will the central government agree?

 

Proposal it maybe... however, as there has been X number of problems and hiccups with proposed airport at Jewar... so are there going to be problems with this one as well... if one is to believe the story.... not to mention X number of litigations... farmers demanding excessive compensation and the fact that there are still different parties ruling the centre and UP... till they are not in sync... airport comes no where... not in Mathura and not in Jewar.

 

3. The most important question.... WHY have an International Airport at the border of another state where the other state may benefit much more than the host state?

 

Forget Agra and Mathura... should international airport come up about there... Palwal will be next Gurgaon in the making.

 

Things to ponder...........

 

Safal Suri

[pk gogia]

If the initial feelers from SP Govt are to be believed, it seems to be
the end of the road as far as Jewar Airport is concerned. However,
Metro to GN might become a reality in the next few years. So GN might
be positively impacted due to the twin effects of Metro and interest
in Yeida fading away gradually. Many sectors in GN like Swaran Nagari,
Sigma, NRI City, Chi Phi, etc might see dwelling units come up
rapidly over the next 3 years for two reasons--- Metro coming and as
it is these sectors would be attracting large penalty for non
construction of min 50%. Also Noida expressway is getting expensive
and this would have a spill over effect on GN properties.

Interest in Yamuna properties has been sustained only due to airport
dream. If this dream turns out to be untrue plots at Yeida would
become unsaleable.

[Aviban]

Not sure why to speculate, when we know the politicians has mastered
the art of indirection.

When there are Goals, and Plans followed by action, we have reasons to
negate.
When there are no plans and no action or adhoc actions, We still
complain.

Well both has its own pluses and minuses,
For now enjoy the game being played by the champions.

[Manav Trehan]

Agree with Safal.

Thee are no new major planned activities that can happen over next 2
years. Unless central govt falls.
Forget about any airport.

Country is in sleep mode guys.

[Rohit]

I am not sure Palwal going to be next gurgaon, But yes there is rumour
in market that one Big shot has purchased acres of land on KMP near
palwal.... That big shot is close to Gandi family, infact family
member....

[Safal Suri]

 

Dear Aviban,

 

Its been almost three years now, since I have been hearing ultimate demise of Yamuna Expressway area. There has been no dearth of doomsayers who have nothing better than painting doom and gloom picture of this area. Earlier there were heady claims that Yamuna Expressway will never get completed... then the target was Formula-1 circuit, compared to infamous Commonwealth Games on each occasion. I am sure there will always be next target... then next and next and next....!!!

 

As Sushil Kumar Ji expressed in another post... this area remains safe and excellent investment over long term. Whatever the doomsayers proclaim... there is no need to panic.

 

I spoke to many reporters and journalists from Noida/Gr. Noida and Lucknow. Except for the newspaper which printed the news, everyone was... either unaware or uninterested... in this particular news article. To my understanding... after speaking to many journalists and reporters... it appears that everyone is free to present a proposal during such meetings and the head of the meeting is obligated to instruct exploring any such proposal/s. Sometimes, such proposals are taken seriously and may get materialized, but more often than not, such proposals are just propaganda instrument catering to local political needs.

 

Well, no one knows what happens to this particular proposal. It may get serious consideration, or maybe not. Whatever happens... getting an International Airport between Agra and Mathura... may not be any easier than getting an International Airport at Jewar. The odds are hugely against the new proposal.

 

1. Supreme Court’s standing order... no new air polluting industry within 50 km radius of Taj Mahal. It is the reason, long standing demand of International Airport for Agra was shifted from Agra to Jewar, in the first place.

 

2. Airport needed to cater to DMIC at Dadri-Dankur-Jewar belt. As already provided in DMIC report, an International Airport at Jewar forms the first airport in the chain of 3 airports. Other being... one in Rajasthan and one in Gujarat. Two new airports... right next to each other... Jewar and Meerut, is neither needed, nor financially feasible. Any changes in DMIC plan are highly unlikely as it is mainly funded by Japan... which makes it weather proof from domestic state politics.

 

3. Land & Infrastructure. There is hardly any virgin land available on large scale... in and around Mathura-Agra belt. Lets not forget... an International Airport will not come alone. Any such airport... at such close distance to Delhi... will require huge land tracks of land for industrial, residential, commercial and defence purposes. Getting such amounts of land... at such a religious and ancient place... if not impossible... is going to be way more difficult than getting land at Jewar area, where there is ample virgin land. Besides, Yamuna Expressway provides excellent infrastructure to potential and proposed airport at Jewar... compared to congested and suffocated NH-2, with towering inadequate infrastructure.

 

4. Crop clause. It is well know that northern part of Yamuna is mostly khaddar land, reserved for annual floods. In other words, the flood plain is unable to produce more than one crop a year. Where as the southern part of Yamuna... the entire belt from Palwal to Agra and beyond produces three crops a year. Well... not just in PROPOSED new Land Acquisition Act... but also in SP’s manifesto... it is clearly mentioned that no land producing two or more crops will be acquired unless it is absolutely urgent and cannot be done without.

 

It is clear that odds are stacked high against any new International Airport... either at Agra-Mathura belt or Meerut.

 

All said... I am not claiming that the proposed greenfield International Airport will definitely come at Jewar. All I am saying is... right now... the possibility of new International Airport at Agra-Mathura belt or Meerut is highly unlikely when compared to proposal at Jewar.

 

Lastly... I agree with Mr. P.K.Gogia... if and when it is finally announced that Metro is coming to Greater Noida... which may not be long wait... the Metro will be real game changer for Greater Noida. No doubt. Demographic of Greater Noida will change faster than any other part of NCR, including Gurgaon and Indirapuram... mainly on account of existing excellent infrastructure.

 

Metro and resulting further development of Greater Noida.. itself... will put huge pressure at prices of near by areas... one of the benefiter will certainly be Yamuna Expressway city... even though I don't see anyone residing there before 2020.

 

Regards,

 

Safal Suri

 

 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Aviban

Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2012 11:26 AM

To: YEIDA

[som shekhar]

Thanks Safal for your thoughtful representation of facts.

DMIC being a key central project & requiring lot of infrastructure
support would have a pure weight when compared to other greenfield
options. Should the airport go any farther than Jewar , would make the
DMIC less attractive for foreign investment.

Greater Noida industrial development has been slow but from my opinion
ought to pick as we wall know about the infrastructure which exists
and which can be promised. Same is the case of YEIDA. Should the
governments take the decisions as what is suggested in this mail
thread can put the whole greater Noida and yeida at risk which i don't
believe they can afford to do.

In fact what i feel is the propagated news can be willful distraction
to keep the yeida prices in check by the time the Congress - SP
conclude on a deal. Ideally this should happen before the Lok sabha
elections

Cheers!
Som Shekhar

[VN]

I was just thinking if an airport does come up between Mathura and
Agra, is it such a bad thing for sector 18/20 residents??

As far as I know, YEA claims after the expressway is complete the
travel time to Agra will be reduced to around 2 hours. So if the
airport does come up between Mathura and Agra the travel time should
be approximately around 1 hour(?) I don't think that this is such a
bad thing for the residents of sector 18/20. In fact its great!

Am I missing something here?

- VN

[raj yadav]

Report okays international airport in Agra

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

Posted: Wednesday, Apr 25, 2012 at 0232 hrs IST

Lucknow: Within four days of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav suggesting development of an international airport at some place between Mathura and Agra, the tourism department has submitted a “concept report” which says the idea of a greenfield international airport on public-private partnership model was a “hot selling proposition”.

The department has suggested that some location between National Highway-2 and Yamuna Expressway would be ideal. It also suggested a feasibility study of potential sites.

Since the proposed airport is likely to fall in the restricted airspace of the existing Air Force airport in Agra, the project would require approval of the Ministry of Defence. The existing airport in Agra is located at Kheria, which is about 5 km away from Agra city. “This would not be a problem because, practically speaking, most of the airspace across the country comes under the restricted area of the Air Force. We are hopeful of getting clearance — the only consideration would have to be that the new airport funnel does not come in way of the funnel area of the existing airport,” said a senior officer.

In support of the project, the department has quoted the huge number of tourists visiting Agra every year.

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/report-okays-international-airport-in-agra/941190/0

[Safal Suri]

 

 

Dear All...

 

If I was given a wish... I’d wish... the entire Indian bureaucracy would become as efficient as the team who created a concept report... even without initial feasibility survey... in 4 flat days... that too... for something as important as an International Airport... and even declared PPP model would be hot selling proposition.

 

I completely agree with Aarkay... Agra-Mathura belt alone cannot sustain an International Airport solely on religious or recreational travel. All that Agra has is small scale industries... mostly leather products... not really needing plane loads of cargo to be imported/exported every hour. To sustain an International Airport... more importantly if PPP model is involved... you need sustained revenues over period of decades. Agra-Mathura belt just doesn't have what it takes. As simple as that. We all know that.

 

This news article apart... whatever it said in the past, says today or may proclaim in the future... even if Govt. of Uttar Pradesh approves it in next 2-3 days... the Central government will take a hell lot of time to approve it... AND even if Central government was to approve it... finding a private company for PPP model is not going to be easy.

 

All said and done... any airport domestic or international is going to be a very very bumpy ride... given that all odds are stacked against it. Anyone who thinks otherwise may also like to consider the fate of PROPOSED International Airport at Jewar which got complete approval from UP Govt. and “in principal clearance” for Central Government, way back in 2004 and yet been stuck and nothing has moved on ground.

 

Safal Suri

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