Much-awaited Navi Mumbai airport Phase-I to be ready by 2019
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said the construction of one terminal building and a runway of the much-awaited Navi Mumbai international airport will be completed by 2019 end. The airport will be built in two phases, he said in the state Assembly while replying to supplementaries put up by the NCP's Jayant Patil, to the main question raised by Congress's Prithviraj Chavan. Here's more.
Entire project would be ready by 2020-21
As a part Phase-I, one terminal building of the airport and runway will be completed by Dec'19, CM Fadnavis said. The terminal building will have the capacity to handle 50 lakh passengers; the entire project would be completed in two or two-and-a-half years (2020-21).
Navi Mumbai international airport should be completed expeditiously: MLAs
Some members of the Maharashtra Assembly stressed on the need to decongest the Mumbai airport, where on an average one plane takes off per minute. They said Navi Mumbai's airport needs to be completed expeditiously in a time-bound manner. Chavan raised the main question about the fee for development and transfer of land provided for the rehabilitation of those affected by the project.
Fee levied only if people transfer land to third parties
Replying to Chavan, CM Fadnavis said a fee is levied only if the land given to the project-affected people is transferred to a third-party for redevelopment. If the project-affected people develop the land, there is no transfer or development fee, he added.
Navi Mumbai airport to handle 80 flights an hour
Last month, PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Phase-I of the Rs. 16,700cr Navi Mumbai international airport, which will give a breather to the choked single-runway Mumbai airport. With two parallel runways, it will handle close to 80 flights an hour. The airport was planned in 1997 as a secondary airport to meet Mumbai's growing needs at an investment of Rs. 3,000cr.
Navi Mumbai airport project delayed several times
The project was inordinately delayed due to various factors, including political indecision, issues pertaining to environmental clearances, and funding. The City Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), which is developing the new airport along with the GVK Group, expects the first flight to take off in 2019.
How many people have been affected by the project?
As many as ten villages in Navi Mumbai have been affected by the proposed international airport there. Till now, the CIDCO has rehabilitated nearly 400 of the 3,500 affected families. Each family has been offered alternative plots, monetary compensation, construction aid, rent allowances and additional amenities in the Pushpak Nagar area of Navi Mumbai where they will be rehabilitated.
