Minister admits delay in Mumbai’s new airport, vows to end it

Mumbai: Admitting that construction work for Mumbai’s second airport had been delayed, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said that work on it may begin by mid-2009.
According to the minister, the delay was due to sluggishness in the market but most of the issues were now sorted out.
However, officials said progress of the construction of the new airport was hindered following objections raised by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). Over 30 per cent of the proposed land for the airport, that falls under the Coastal Regulatory Zone, is covered by mangroves.
“All depends upon the environment ministry’s clearance. We’re all waiting for it,” said G S Gill, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of City & Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra.
The new airport project, that had initially been given clearance by the National Coastal Zone Management Authority , was stalled by the MoEF. Once permission from the environment ministry comes through, construction work could begin anytime. “I certainly believe that Mumbai needs a second airport at the earliest. Otherwise, economic development of not just Mumbai but other cites like Pune and Nasik will also get affected,” said Patel.
The minister also downplayed the recent attack by Air India employees on the carrier’s new ground handling joint venture with Singapore Air Terminal Services.
20/12/08 Shashank Shekhar/ExpressIndia

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Categories: Airports Dec 2008, New Dec 2008