Sunday, January 12, 2014

Taj international airport project hits MoD hurdle

Lucknow: Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s ambitious project — Taj International Airport — has run into a roadblock with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) raising objections to the proposed site at Firozabad’s Tundla tehsil, which it says is in proximity to its proposed radar station at Swar area in Agra.  The objection comes as a huge setback to the state government given that the site was zeroed in after deliberations that lasted months and a survey by a private consultant firm. The state government has now decided to present its case in a meeting with the Defence Ministry officials and is seeking a date after January 15. Experts and the private consultant are busy analysing the objections and preparing for a presentation to be made before the ministry in favour of the proposed site. According to the guidelines, no aircraft can fly below 19,000 feet while flying over a radar station. “We are analysing the objections raised by the Union Ministry of Defence. Firstly, the proposed radar station in Agra’s Swar area is only on paper, as the ministry has sought land for the station from the state government,” said Sanjiv Saran, Secretary, UP Tourism Department, which is the nodal agency for the airport project.
11/01/14 Maulshree Seth/Indian Express
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