Jolly Grant Airport Expansion Clears Major Forest Milestone

The proposed expansion of Jolly Grant Airport has progressed after a project screening committee (PSC) granted conditional approval for the diversion of 49.6 hectares of forest land.

This marks a key procedural milestone, although the project still requires wildlife clearance, compensatory afforestation certification, and a detailed plan for the translocation of native tree species before receiving final approval. The PSC—comprising officials from the district administration, forest department, and the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority—has forwarded the proposal for further statutory clearances.

The expansion will involve the felling of approximately 9,300 trees, including species such as khair, sheesham, teak, amaltas, and kachnar. Officials noted that over 6,000 of these fall within smaller diameter categories, indicating dense vegetation in the project area. The committee has directed forest authorities to prepare a comprehensive tree translocation plan, with the project developer bearing the associated costs.

Given the airport’s proximity to the Shivalik Elephant Reserve, wildlife clearance remains mandatory. The project alignment also passes through an eco-sensitive zone, necessitating multiple environmental approvals.

Of the total land diversion, 7.20 hectares are allocated for an approach road, 33.90 hectares for airport expansion, and 8.59 hectares for runway development, highlighting the project’s significant infrastructure scale.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.