Good news. Hindon Air Force station in Ghaziabad set to become second airport in Delhi. All flights operating on Delhi routes under the government’s regional connectivity scheme (RCS) to land and depart from Decemer.

Civil Aviation Ministry sources said that Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has accepted the government’s proposal for the same on the condition that this would be a temporary arrangement.

Apparently, the decision had been taken in view of the fact that the Indira Gandhi International airport is already congested and major expansion work is under progress.

Sources further added that the ministry is soon going to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Delhi airport and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the purpose.  “Once the MoU is signed, the AAI will develop passenger facilities at Hindon Air base, which is less than 150 km from Delhi.”

Meanwhile, a senior ministry official on condition of anonimity said that they have almost finalised an MoU between DIAL, MOCA and AAI as DIAL has agreed to their proposal of using Hindon Air base as a back up for Delhi. The MoU is likely to be signed before November 5, when the ministry is going to announce new routes under its RCS Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN).

In fact, it was inn August, the ministry had requested DIAL to allow Hindon to host regional flights but DAIL had some reservations about the proposal.  According to the agreement between the Central government and private concessionaire when Delhi airport was privatised, commercial flights are not allowed to operate from any airport within a 150-km radius of the Delhi airport without the permission of DIAL.

The ministry official added that the decision has now been finalised while taking care of DIAL’s interests.  The official said, “This is a temporary arrangement and since DIAL knows that it cannot handle extra flights at Delhi airport before expansion, it has agreed to the use of Hindon. Though once the expansion is complete, these flights will shift back to Delhi airport,” the official added.