New Delhi: LG VK Saxena has given the nod for setting up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Free Trade Zone (FTZ) at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in the capital.
SEZ and FTZ will be related to cargo infrastructure and other allied services. Once operationalized, they will give a fillip to the logistics sector and catalyse economic growth apart from spinoffs for generating employment, the LG office said. Officials said LG approved the proposal, taking note of the strategic importance of developing an SEZ at the airport hub after ensuring that DDA would give the go-ahead for the same as per the provisions of the Master Plan of Delhi 2021. To be spread over an area of nearly five acres, the SEZ would create economic activities through exports, warehousing, trading and related services at the airport complex.
“It will also liberalize and reduce procedural complexities in terms of applications, licensing, clearances and other regulations, and reduce red tape, apart from providing tax benefits to entrepreneurs,” said an official Delhi was identified as a pilot air cargo hub by the Union ministry of civil aviation, which requires tier 1, 2 and 3 levels of infrastructure. While Delhi International Airport Limited, the concessionaire which operates the IGIA, has already developed tier 1 and 2 infrastructures by way of developing two cargo terminals and logistics centers, it will achieve tier 3 once to be spread over an area of nearly five acres, the SEZ would create economic activities through exports, warehousing, trading and related services at the airport complex.
“It will also liberalize and reduce procedural complexities in terms of applications, licensing, clearances and other regulations, and reduce red tape, apart from providing tax benefits to entrepreneurs,” said an official.
Delhi was identified as a pilot air cargo hub by the Union ministry of civil aviation, which requires tier 1, 2 and 3 levels of infrastructure. While Delhi International Airport Limited, the concessionaire which operates the IGIA, has already developed tier 1 and 2 infrastructures by way of developing two cargo terminals and logistics centres, it will achieve tier 3 once an SEZ comes up at the airport complex. DIAL proposed the setting up of two multi-product SEZs at the IGI Airport over an area of 2.02 hectares each and requested Delhi govt’s recommendation under SEZ Rules, 2006. Thereafter, Delhi govt’s industries department sought clearance from the DDA, since the development of Delhi as per the Master Plan comes under its purview,” said an official.
The industries department had in Dec 2023 requested DDA to provide inputs on whether the development of such an infrastructure at IGIA was permitted as per MPD-2021. DDA gave its consent in Jan after taking traffic impact assessment and development control norms for transportation, laid out in MPD-2021, into consideration. The DDA’s consent, said an official, was subject to the regulations laid down by the Airport Authority of India. source indian times
