Meerut, Moradabad and Faizabad will get airports with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Uttar Pradesh Government for developing these airports.

The agreement comes days before the model code of conduct for the next general elections, which will prohibit the Government from undertaking any development work kicks in.

The agreement was signed on Monday in the presence of the Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, who has been winning from Baghpat constituency which adjoins Meerut.

Former Indian cricket captain Mohamad Azharudin is the Lok Sabha MP from Moradabad while Dr Nirmal Khatri is the Lok Sabha MP from Faizabad.

The proposal for an airport in Meerut may require the nod of the Union Cabinet as the current rules say that a second airport cannot come up within a distance of 150 km from an existing airport. The new airport in Meerut could breach these rules as there is already an airport at Delhi. This may require the Ministry of Civil Aviation to seek a one-time waiver from the Union Cabinet for the airport to come up in Meerut. In addition Agra, Allahabad, Bareilly and Kanpur will get new civil enclaves which will allow unhindered arrival and departure of aircraft.

For instance, at the moment Agra has an Air Force station where civil aircraft are allowed to land only when the IAF is not using the airport.

With a civil enclave coming up unhindered domestic airlines operations can take place at these airports.

A statement adds that the Government's thrust is on having inclusive growth in the country for which regional or remote area air connectivity can act as a catalyst.

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