New Delhi: It looks like Delhi might get its second airport soon. According to Centre for Aviation (CAPA) which is one of the world’s most trusted sources of market intelligence for aviation and travel industry, the foundation stone for Delhi’s second airport will shortly be laid to mark the start of construction work.
The CAPA analysis stated that PM Modi is expected to inaugurate the Jewar Noida International Airport (JNIA), also known as the New Greater Delhi Airport redevelopment project between February 23 and 25, by laying a foundation stone for the project. The cost of this project is estimated to be up to USD 3.1 billion. This will be the largest airport in India by surface area.
The plans for the airport were approved by India’s Aviation Ministry on June 25, 2015 and given in-principle government approval in June 2017.
This project will be implemented as a public-private partnership. That being so, the GMR Group holds first right of refusal for any new airport in Delhi. In February last year, GMR Infrastructure’s director K Narayan Rao confirmed GMR plans to participate in the project. Rao said that a coordination committee should be established with representatives of the Union Government, Uttar Pradesh State Government and private sector to oversee the project and avoid delays. He also called for the development of metro rail connectivity to the planned airport.
This airport will take off some of the air passenger traffic burden away from the Indira Gandhi International Airport. India is expected to become the third largest aviation market in the world. It is estimated that this new airport, which will be built to handle 50 million passengers per year, will become ‘saturated’ by 2040.