The Rs 10,000-crore Durgapur Aerotropolis, might be shifted out of its present site as Coal India has reservations over the project coming up in the Tamla coal block area.
The Rs 10,000-crore Durgapur Aerotropolis, India’s first airport city project, might be shifted out of its present site as Coal India has reservations over the project coming up in the Tamla coal block area where it has coal reserves.
Santosh Bagrodia, minister of state, ministry of coal, said, the airport project may be possibly shifted. “We are trying to work out a solution with the state government,” he said.
Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL), a Coal India subsidiary, which holds the mining licence for the Tamla block, raised objections on the ground that the site falls in the coal block area.
In an objection to the land acquisition with collector of Burdwan, ECL said, coal extraction from the coal seams underneath may affect the surface structures that are proposed to be built under the aerotropolis project.
According to sources, the coal ministry had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the state government on the issue of shifting the aerotropolis project.
The project promoted by Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL), is slated to come up in the Durgapur-Asansol region of West Bengal, which falls in the Burdwan district.
On the other hand, the land acquisition process has already started under West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), the nodal agency facilitating land acquisition for BAPL.
A total of 3,500 acres will be required over seven years, of which 2,362 acres will be needed in the first phase.
Sources in BAPL told DNA Money, “Our role will only start after WBIDC hands over the land to us. WBIDC is in touch with Coal India and whatever be the resolution, we will go by that.”
BAPL is a special purpose vehicle set up to implement the Durgapur aerotropolis project. Singapore’s Changi Airport International Pte now holds 26% in BAPL, while rest is held by four stakeholders, Pragati Social Infrastructure, Pragati 47, Land Lease Ltd and City Star Ltd. WBIDC is also likely to pick up 2% stake in BAPL, which will allow it greater say in aerotropolis operations.
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