Hurdles gone, Navi Mumbai to get airport by 2013 end

Mumbai: The Centre on Monday cleared environment and coastal regulation zone (CRZ) hurdles in the path of the proposed Greenfield Navi Mumbai international airport.
The state government is now planning a time-bound implementation of the delayed project and expects the basic services to be launched in late 2013. Part of the 2,100 hectares earmarked for the airport to be located between Kharghar and Panvel falls in CRZ I, II, III areas. Work to fill up the creek was hindered by the CRZ notification.
The CRZ notification issued by the Union Environment and Forest Ministry was amended on Monday to clear the decks for the project. The project has already been cleared by the Union Cabinet and the state government had been following up the CRZ issue with the Centre.
The primary report on the airport plan has been received from the consultants, and the final report will be submitted on August 31. The necessary tender papers for selection of the developer will be prepared on September 30, and bids submitted by interested parties on February 15, 2010. The developer will be shortlisted on March 31, 2010 and in April- May 2010, the agreement will be signed and the foundation stone for the work laid. Basic facilities at the airport are expected to be inaugurated in September-October 2013.
Once bidding starts, GVK Industries, which now operates the Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) through the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), will have the first right of refusal if their bid is within 10 per cent of the winning bid.
19/05/09 ExpressIndia

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Categories: Airports May 2009, New May 2009