Nagpur : The new airport in Navi Mumbai is expected to be ready within five years, the Legislative Council was informed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday.
“All the hurdles in development of new airport in Navi Mumbai have been removed and the construction of the first phase of the airport is expected to be completed by 2019,” Fadnavis told the house while replying a calling attention motion moved by Congress member Sunil Dutt.
The government has received all the environmental clearances necessary for the development of the airport including the permissions related to CRZ and ministry of forests has given permissions related to forest conservation act and the wildlife conservation act. The defense ministry has given defense related permissions. Almost all of the land required for the project too has been acquired, CM informed the house. The airport is to be developed on 2,268 hectares of the land at the cost of Rs. 14,573 crore.
State government would make all efforts to give employment to the local youths through this airport. A special training programme will be developed for that, he said.
Chief Minister also said that the special economic zone along with the airport too shall be developed soon. “The State government has not given up on the project,” he said.
The domestic and international passenger traffic to and from Mumbai is expected to touch 100 million passengers by 2030-31. To cater to this rising passenger traffic, the government decided to go for this green field project under the PPP mode. First phase of the airport, which is expected to be completed within 5 years, would cater to 10 million passengers and the project when completed would be able to cater to 60 million passengers every year.
“The project has now moved ahead and requests for quotations have been invited. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed in three years. This airport will not juts enhance the passenger handling capacity of the metropolis, but even provide the area with a numerous opportunities of employment and entrepreneurship. The State government is committed to expedite the processes and complete the project as soon as possible,” Fadnavis said.
Abhijit Mulye
