Prayagraj: Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) has begun preparations to develop a high-tech township covering over 400 hectares near the Iradatganj airstrip in Ghoorpur along the Prayagraj-Rewa highway, with the administration moving to clear encroachments and secure the land.The development is being planned under the chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s expansion scheme in Iradatganj. The proposed township will have plots of different sizes, while flats under group housing may also be developed according to demand.The layout will include parks, parking spaces and other basic infrastructure, with four to five blocks planned for the township. Each block will have a park spread over four to five bighas, while parking facilities will be provided along roads.The move follows a letter from the Union civil aviation ministry to the state govt directing it to remove encroachments from the airstrip land and take necessary measures to repair and protect the property. Following the communication, district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma has constituted an inquiry committee headed by ADM finance and revenue Vinita Singh. The committee comprises sub-divisional magistrates of Karchhana and Bara, ACP Ghoorpur and the senior mining officer. The team will examine the land and related issues before further action is taken.A major challenge is the presence of alleged illegal constructions on a sizeable portion of the land in the Iradatganj area. Houses and shops have reportedly come up after encroachments over 100 bighas belonging to the Army. At several places, soil excavation has also left deep pits.The ministry has written to PDA seeking removal of the encroachments. Preliminary discussions have also taken place in regard to transfer of land for the proposed township and the process is expected to begin after the administration’s inquiry.PDA vice-chairman Rishiraj said the township was being planned after proposed Aero City and that land would be taken from the ministry. “Further action will be initiated after the report of the committee constituted at the administration level,” he said.
