FACULTY AT IITS, NIT MAY GET A PAY HIKE
GREATER NOIDA: The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has initiated the process to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) of the proposed Noida international airport near Jewar along the 165-km Yamuna Expressway that connects Greater Noida with Agra.
YEIDA, which was made the nodal agency for the ₹20,000-crore project this month, has started work on selection of a consultant who will prepare the DPR and the technical feasibility report (TFR) for the international airport project. YEIDA is coordinating between the state and Centre for the international airport project which is expected to boost industrialization, create jobs and revive the real estate business in the area.
The industrial authority is expected to select a consultant by end of November so the work on preparing the DPR and the TFR can be started in first week of December. The TFR and the DPR are crucial processes to pave way for airport project.
“We have made a draft of request for the proposal’s terms and conditions under which the consultant will be selected. We sent the draft to UP government for approval on October 27. We have decided to float an e-tender for selecting a consultant and aim to hire one by end of next month. We expect the consultant work on DPR to start in the first week of December,” said Shailendra Bhatia, officer on special duty, YEIDA.
The project was born in 2001 when then Uttar Pradesh chief minister Rajnath Singh proposed a Greenfield Taj International and Aviation Hub (TIAH) at Jewar. The project DPR was made in 2008 but was shelved. The project was revived this year and the Union civil aviation ministry gave its approval to build the international airport on June 24.
“The government is serious about the project and it is among its top priorities. The DPR and TFR of the project were made in 2008. The new consultant will take help of these two documents and submit the TFR and DPR at earliest for necessary approvals. The work on ground will start soon after,” said Bhatia, who is also the project coordinator.
The UP government aims to start land acquisition in January. On the whole, the project requires 5,000 hectares of land.
The multi-phase project is currently in its first phase which would require ₹3,000 crore to complete. The state government agreed to release ₹1,000 crore from its coffers to acquire 1,000 hectares of agricultural land. The YEIDA, too, has taken a loan of ₹1,000 crore from four banks— HDFC, Indian Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and Canara Bank—to pay hiked land compensation to farmers.
“Central government agency HUDCO will also provide ₹3,000 crore for the project. The state government will provide required approvals for funds in the upcoming budget meeting,” Bhatia said.