Maharashtra gets green light for three airports
Contributors are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the contributor directly
India’s Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh has given green light to Maharashtra to develop three major airports in the
state.
The airports include Navi Mumbai International Airport, new international airport in Pune and expansion of Nagpur airport. The meeting held with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra along with other ministers, discussed key infrastructure projects in the state which needed to be fast tracked for development.
Navi Mumbai Airport:
With the current Mumbai Airport expected to reach full capacity by 2015, the development of Navi Mumbai International Airport is a significant breakthrough. The Navi Mumbai International Airport would ensure that air traffic to Mumbai would grow unhindered for many years. This airport project, which was approved in 2007 by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has received clearances from many agencies both at the Central and State levels. The only major issue that was pending was the acquisition of remaining land. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra informed that, after detailed discussions with the Project Affected Persons (PAPs), an agreement had been arrived on a comprehensive and generous package for the land to be acquired. With this, all decks have been cleared to move ahead on the Navi Mumbai International Airport Project. It is likely that the project will be awarded by 31 March 2014.
Pune Airport:
The current Pune Airport belongs to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the civilian airport operates through a civil enclave. Given the traffic projections at Pune, there is an urgent need to build a new Green Field Airport. After discussing different options, it was decided that a new international airport would be developed in Khed, Pune. The Pune International Airport Project would be lead managed by the Airports Authority of India.
Nagpur Airport:
The other long pending issue which was resolved is the expansion of Nagpur airport (MIHAN). It was resolved in the meeting that Government of India would move to exchange the necessary land with the Government of Maharashtra so that the work on this can begin immediately.
The other project that was discussed is the Mumbai Elevated Rail Corridor Project, which envisages an investment of Rs.20,000 crore to build additional suburban traffic capacity over 60 kms. It was agreed that a fresh traffic study would be conducted taking into account the traffic capacity being created by the new Mumbai Metro line which is partially on the same alignment. The modalities on moving ahead with the project would also be finalised soon after that.
Comments are closed.