BAPL receives first tranche of land for the Aerotroplis project from WBIDC

Thursday, 29 Oct 2009

It is reported that the much awaited process for setting up the country’s first private Greenfield merchant airport at Andal in Durgapur was set in motion with the state government handing over the first tranche of 533.51 acres of land required for the project to Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited.

The 99 years lease agreement was signed between BAPL and WBIDC under which the total lease premium paid by BAPL is INR 44, 37, 02,418. The integrated project is spread over approximately 2300 acres and the land acquisition for the remaining area is expected over the next few months.

Land acquisition process for the project commenced after the rehabilitation package was determined by consensus with people’s elected representatives. The unique and first of its kind rehabilitation package offers a land-for-land scheme to land givers. Besides this, the rehabilitation package also offers free vocational training at ITI Durgapur to one eligible person from each land giver’s family. Training for the 1st batch of 204 such trainees was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister of Technical Education & Training on 4th September 2009. Notably, the unique R & R package for this project is being replicated by the state government for other projects as well.

The Aerotropolis project which is being developed in association with Singapore’s Changi Airports International is all set to change the face of the Asansol- Durgapur region and will create the second metropolitan city in the region. The project aims to attract about USD 2.2 billion of investments and will be home to approximately 150,000 people and will generate over 40,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.

The airport is expecting a passenger volume of approximately 0.4 million passengers by 2011-12. This passenger traffic in the region surrounding Durgapur in West Bengal is expected to grow by as much as 12% in the next few years.

Mr Arvind Pande chairman of BAPL said that “Having already received the clearance from Ministry of Civil Aviation and attained financial closure for the project, we are in the process of completing the detailed engineering plan for the airport and expect to commence construction from March 2010. The airport will be operational by September 2011.”

He further added, “We are proud to associate with world-class experts like Changi Airports International and Townland Consultants for the project and are confident that this project will position West Bengal as an important hub in the global aviation map”.

Mr Wong Woon Liong CEO of Changi Airports International said that “We are happy that the first tranche of land for the project has been handed over and we look forward to continued support from the West Bengal government for the project. This is a significant milestone for BAPL and Changi is confident that the project will progress on schedule.”