Nine aviation companies, including Mumbai-based Ambition Flying Club and New Delhi-based Pioneer Flying Club have come forward for the venture. Besides, other institutes like Chawla, Chetak, Pankh, Thakur, Saraswati Flying College, Azad Scholars’ Educational Society and Flytech institutes are also eager to participate in the project.

“Many companies are in the process of getting clearances. But four or five will hopefully start flying activities by April-end,” said Director General Civil Aviation Directorate Devendra Swaroop.

In July last, the state government had decided to hand over all the 12 state-owned airstrips to private investors for setting up of such institutes on Public Private Partnership (PPP) module. The government has now received proposals for each airstrip barring the ones in Ghazipur, Sonebhadra, Farrukhabad and Meerut.

The government will initially earn Rs 36 lakh per year through these airstrips as private investors are supposed to pay Rs 3 lakh per year for the initial five years. After five years, their contract will be renewed with a 50 per cent hike in the annual charges.

The 12 airstrips, one each in Ambedkarnagar, Ghazipur, Sultanpur, Aligarh, Meerut, Farrukhabad, Faizabad, Kushinagar, Sonebhadra, Lakhimpur Kheri, Shrawasti and Etawah district, are at present being used for VIP movements. “But the venture will ensure maintenance of airstrips while generating revenue for the exchequer,” said a Civil Aviation Directorate official.

According to the Expression of Interest, the state government will provide the airstrip to the private investor on a 30-year lease, besides hangers, terminal buildings for their use. It will also allow them to construct further and add facilities required for setting up of the institutes.

Rajesh Thakur, the accounts officer of Thakur Institute of Aviation, which has chosen Faizabad as its area of operation, said: “We only have to acquire a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Director General of Civil Aviation. The other formalities are complete. The airbase is already under renovation and we hope to start flying activities by April.”

Ambition Flying Club Director Rajiv Khandari also sounded confident of the project’s feasibility.

He told The Indian Express on phone from Mumbai: “Logistically, Aligarh is 130 km from New Delhi and the airstrip is close to the main highway. Its proximity to Delhi and the neighbouring states will make the institute quite viable.”