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Policy relaxed for new airport projects within 150 km |
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The Union Government has relaxed the rule that a new airport will not be allowed within 150km of an existing one.
According to the Civil Aviation Minister, "The ministry will have a single-window clearance for such projects. Only those proposals which have a bearing on contractual obligation of an existing one — like those in Bangalore, Hyderabad or Delhi — will need to go to the Cabinet for clearance”.. The new proposals will have to meet all safety and technical parameters.
Under the new simplified policy, a steering committee — headed by the aviation secretary — would be set up to coordinate the clearances required from various agencies for setting up an airport. DGCA will be empowered to clear projects beyond 150km of an existing airport and those which neither have any bearing on contractual obligations nor seek exemption from any rule.
According to an official statement, "Proposals for airports to handle cargo and/or non-scheduled flights as well as heliports need not be submitted to the ministry for approval and these cases may be considered and decided at the level of DGCA”. Central agencies will continue to oversee functions like air traffic services, security, customs and immigration. The new policy will not have a bearing on the "under consideration" status of Uttar Pradesh's proposal to build an airport in Greater Noida and also growing demands in Bangalore and Hyderabad to keep their existing airports open once new facilities get operational there.
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