'I'll talk to Centre on 2nd airport'

Navi Mumbai: Baffled by his deputy Chhagan Bhujbal's remark that the Navi Mumbai airport would have been ready by now had one of the Ambani brothers been its developer and not the government, chief minister Ashok Chavan on Monday assured that the Centre's objection to the project would be resolved soon through negotiations.
"This airport is the need of the hour and our priority is to resolve the conflict immediately so that the airport is in place before its need is felt,'' he added. He, however, admitted that Navi Mumbai and surrounding areas lacked proper transport and parking infrastructure.
Both the CM and his deputy were speaking at a Cidco function at Vishnudas Bhave Auditorium, Vashi, on Monday. It was held to mark the inauguration of an Urban Haat in Belapur and a vocational training centre for SEZ- and airport-affected people at Dronagiri as well as the bhoomipujan of Aagari-Koli Cultural Centre and an exhibition centre.
Interacting with the media, Chavan said he would meet Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh to convince his ministry about the need for speedy development of the airport.
"We will follow up the matter regularly,'' Chavan said after Bhujbal's jibe at the Congress leadership. "Do we have to go 200 km out of the city to have a second airport?'' Bhujbal, an NCP leader, asked. Chavan said he did not want to create a controversy over the issue and that he would ensure that the Centre and the state resolved it as soon as possible.
23/06/09 Chittaranjan Tembhekar/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jun 2009, New Jun 2009