Union ministry of road transport and highways has called for a meeting via video-conferencing to discuss the various mobility options between the upcoming Jewar Airport and Delhi’s IGI Airport as well as the cost estimates and cost sharing formula between the Centre and the state. The crucial meeting is slated for August 7.
Besides the secretary of the Union road transport ministry, UP’s PWD secretary, the Yamuna Expressway Authority CEO, the chairman of the National Highways Authority of India and the principal secretary of PWD of Delhi will also participate in the meeting.
“Decision on what is going to be taken up on priority is expected to be taken during the meeting,” said an officer of Uttar Pradesh PWD. Aware that without improving accessibility of the airport site with the neighbouring states, desired results to make the Jewar project successful would be difficult to achieve, the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) is finalising its presentation ahead of the meeting.
The study on improving connectivity was first conducted by RITES, which has proposed links through an additional road corridor, rapid rail as well as metro line given the growing future needs of the population staying in NCR. Separated by a distance of some 70km, it currently takes nearly two hours to reach the airport site in Jewar from Connaught Place during rush hour.
YEIDA also wants to reduce the travel time between Delhi and Jewar to less than an hour, with the help of a high-speed metro line or a rail service. CEO of YEIDA Arun Vir Singh said that the authority will highlight the need to improve the connectivity of Jewar with Delhi through transport mediums other than road.
“The priority is to improve the accessibility of the airport site with Delhi at the earliest. A wide road is available at present. But another option to bring down the travel time is required,” he said. The Uttar Pradesh government had approved Rs 238 crore last year for the development roads, drainage system, streetlights, water connection, post offices, schools and community health centres among other facilities near the airport.
The Jewar airport is likely to start operations with two runways in first phase, expandable to six by the end of the fourth phase. The current deadline for commissioning the project is late 2023 or early 2024.