The Union Cabinet has approved the transfer and exchange of 278 hectares of Indian Air Force land—consisting of 288.74 acres of Airports Authority of India land in possession of IAF in lieu of 400 hectares of land offered by the Government of Maharashtra—for development of the Nagpur airport project (MIHAN) and restoration of ownership of 288.74 acres of land back to AAI.
The Maharashtra government has offered 400 hectares of land in lieu of the 278 hectares taking into account the cost of relocation of the existing assets of IAF. This exchange of land has been found appropriate by IAF as additional land for extension of runway etc. is required for its GAJRAJ project. The 278 hectares of land in possession of IAF is located at five different pockets thereby restricting it from developing the project in an integrated manner. IAF needs a single plot of land for expansion of runway and development of the GAJRAJ project.
At the same time, the IAF land is required for developing the Nagpur airport project known as MIHAN (Multimodal International Cargo Hub and Airport).
The state government is offering an additional 122 hectares to IAF to meet the cost of assets that cannot be relocated.
The Cabinet also approved leasing of Airports Authority of India land to the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy at the following airports.
* Leasing of 6,200 sq. metres of AAI land, including 4,800 sq. metres of land, for two hangars with apron and 1,400 sq. metres of land for link taxi track to the hangar to ICG at Juhu Airport, Mumbai.
* Leasing of five acres to ICG at Vizag Airport, Andhra Pradesh.
* Leasing of 0.9 acres of land to ICG for construction of a taxi track at Tuticorin Airport, Tamil Nadu.
* Leasing of a triangular piece of land measuring 7,326 sq. metres to ICG at Porbandar Airport, Gujarat.
* Leasing of 4.62 acres of AAI land to Indian Navy at Porbandar Airport, Gujarat.
According to the Cabinet, the Indian Coast Guard is developing and establishing various facilities along the coastline to increase surveillance and keep a watch on possible illegal and terrorist activities. The various plots of land can be allotted as they are for defence and security purpose and because they do not fall within the future development plans of the airports.
