UP signs support pact with Noida airport
GREATER NOIDA: The Uttar Pradesh government, the Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL) and the Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) signed a tripartite ‘state support agreement’ in Lucknow on Monday. This has paved the way for the construction of the airport at the Jewar site along the Yamuna Expressway.
UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath signed the agreement in presence of NIAL chief executive officer Arun Vir Singh, YIAPL chief executive officer Christoph Schnellmann and other top officials.
“It is a historic day. The state support agreement was signed today. It was the last major hurdle that was cleared. Now, the YIAPL will get the map approved before the work at the site begins. As per the agreement, the government is bound to provide infrastructure services such as connectivity via roads, rail, metro and expressway among other facilities to the airport,” said Singh.
Switzerland company Zurich Airport International AG, the concessionaire, will invest ₹30,000 crore in the project and will get 40 years to develop the airport project. The project is to
be built on a public-private partnership (PPP) model, under which Zurich will design, build, finance, operate and transfer the project to the government in 40 years. It will start with two runways by 2023-24 under Phase I, and it will have five runways in full capacity, said NIAL officials.
As per the process, the YIAPL will now get approvals of the map from all agencies, to start working at the site.
“The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have already approved the map. Now, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) needs to give the approval. Once
the BCAS gives approval, the YEIDA will approve the same in a board meeting and then NIAL will have to approve it in a meeting. Once the map is approved, the YIAPL agency formed to develop and run the project will start the work,” said Singh.
“The support agreement with the Uttar Pradesh government is a significant milestone for the project and a testament of the strong and growing partnership between NIAL and the government. We are committed to build this world-class airport in UP and look forward to actively investing and participating in India’s aviation growth story,” said Schnellmann.