In October 2022, the state government of Uttar Pradesh announced a proposal to begin work on expanding Azamgarh Airport. This announcement was made under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) 'Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik' (UDAN) scheme launched by the Union Government in 2016. Community members whose land is likely to be acquired for this expansion have been protesting the decision since then.
In July 2022, the government of Uttar Pradesh signed an agreement with the Government of Uttar Pradesh for Operation with the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for the operation of five airports in the state. These include Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Sonebhadra and Shravasti.
As per the proposed plan for the upgradation and expansion of the Azamgarh airport, 360 acres of land are expected to be acquired in the first phase, while 310 acres are expected in the second phase. Around 2500 individuals stand to lose their houses with the implementation of phase one. Another 25,000 individuals face losing their livelihoods.
In mid October, the Sub Divisional Magistrate, accompanied by the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) officers, arrived at night in Jamuwa Hariram village to conduct the land survey. The team of surveyors was surrounded by the opposing villagers. Following this, the survey team locked the men of the village in their houses and misbehaved with the women and children. Subsequently, farmers of the area who would lose their lands due to the expansion project began a protest in Khiriya bagh area in Azamgarh district. They have named their agitation 'Makan Bachao, Khet Bachao'.
In January 2023, the district administration had submitted a preliminary survey of the affected land area to the state government. They have been trying to build a consensus with the residents of the area. If the consensus does not come through, they are likely to initiate formal proceedings for land acquisition to implement the project.
As of February 2023, the affected community members continued their protest. In March 2024, the Prime Minister inaugurated the new terminal building of Azamgarh airport. However, the runway facility expansion had been put on hold in light of the continued protest of affected villagers. It was reported that the administration had stopped the process of survey upon the heavy opposition of affected community members, and the project for runway expansion remained in limbo for approximately three years.
In February 2026, it was reported that the administration initiated a fresh survey for runway expansion. As per the report, in accordance with the new survey, 160 houses would be impacted as against more than 1000 that were mentioned to be impacted under the previous survey. The updated survey details were later also shared with the government.
Further process for expansion of airport runway includes inspection and survey by a technical team of the Airport Authority of India.
Critically, however, six out of seven airports in Uttar Pradesh inaugurated under the UDAN scheme, including Azamgarh Airport, were revealed to have zero operational flights after the inauguration of new terminal buildings, raising questions of planning and viability of building these airports.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand to cancel the project
Refusal to give up land for the project
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Non-Forest (Grazing Land), Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project underway despite protests
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land, Dwelling/habitation use
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Land Acquisition Laws, Land Acquisition Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-consultation with stakeholders
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Other harassment
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
No
Reported Details of the Violation:
Sub-divisional magistrate of Azamgarh arrived at Jamuwa Hariram village at night for conducting a survey of land required for the airport. He was accompanied by Provincial Armed Constabulary officers. When the village residents opposed the survey, the men of the village were locked inside their homes. And state officials misbehaved with women.
Date of Violation
October 13, 2022
Location of Violation
Jamuwa Hariram Village
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, Civil Aviation Department of Government of Uttar Pradesh, Land and Revenue Department of Azamgarh district
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Airport Authority of India
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
