Despite Navi Mumbai police efforts to convince members of All-Party Action Committee (APAC) to put on hold the planned protest on June 24 to name the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) after late D B Patil, there is no change in the stance. The APAC has decided to gherao the CIDCO Bhawan on June 24.
They also claimed that over 70,000 villagers from Raigad, Thane, and Palghar are expected to participate in the protest.
Panvel MLA Prashant Thakur said that they are going to protest on June 24 despite no permission from the Police. “We do not want to put pressure on the state government by gathering such a large crowd. But the state government was not ready to listen when we were talking peacefully,” said Thakur, adding that they will gherao the CIDCO Bhawan on June 24 as planned, and more than 70,000 villagers are expected to participate.
Meanwhile, keeping the situation grim, the Navi Mumbai police have turned the Belapur area into a police cantonment and also conducted mock drills in several areas. According to senior police officials, police personnel from Mumbai, Thane and adjoining areas have been called to maintain the laws and order situation in the city. The Navi Mumbai police had already denied permission for the protest and warned of strict action.
On June 10, thousands of villagers formed a human chain to put pressure on the state government to name the proposed NMIA after the late DB Patil. All-Party Action Committee (APAC) that conducted the human chain claimed that over 40,000 villagers from Raigad, Thane, Palghar, and Navi Mumbai formed the human chain.
Traffic diversion on June 24
Meanwhile, the traffic police have made a few traffic diversions owing to protest in Belapur. Entry of heavy vehicles have been prohibited on June 24 from 8 am to 8 pm. For vehicles going or coming from Pune will have two alternate routes. Vehicles going towards Pune from Mumbai will turn to Arenja Circle through Palm Beach after crossing the Vashi toll plaza. It will go towards Mhape on the Thane-Belapur Road. From Mhape it can go towards, Shil-Phata, Kalamboli circle, and then move Pune or Goa along the JNPT road. In addition, vehicles can also enter Navi Mumbai from Airoli toll plaza and then move towards Mhape, Shil-Phata Kalamboli circle and then move towards Pune or Goa along the JNPT road.
For vehicles coming along the Pune-Mumbai expressway will take a right turn soon after leaving the expressway at Kukshet petrol pump and move towards Roadpali, Shil-Phata, Mhape and then go towards either Vashi or Airoli.
Besides, along the Sion-Panvel highway from Uranphata to Kharghar on both the routes as well as the roads leading to CBD Circle from Killa Junction to Diwale village, from CBD Mahakali Chowk, from Park Hotel and Old Municipal Office, all traffic on this road will be closed from 8 am to 8 pm. The NMMT has also changed around 24 buses routes owing to the protest.
