Rs 200-cr plan for Juhu aerodrome, more if tunnel built

Mumbai: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is in the final stages of drawing up a Rs-200 crore development plan for the Juhu aerodrome, located just over one nautical mile from the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA).
Senior AAI officials said the cost could go up to Rs 550 crore if the state chooses to build a tunnel road, a proposal on which no clear decision has been taken as the AAI itself, citing security, had refused the BMC permission to carry out a feasibility study.
The government owned Mini-Ratna also plans to increase the length of the aerodrome’s runway, for which it will seek environmental clearance. The extended runway will be able to cater to small aircraft such as ATRs, Airbus 320s and Boeing 737s. To accommodate the A320s and B737s on the 3,750-foot runway, it would require major extension and widening for which environmental clearance becomes mandatory.
To redevelop the 385-acre Juhu aerodrome, now primarily an airfield for helicopter operations, AAI plans to raise funds and go into a public-private partnership.
“The estimated cost should be about Rs 200 crore we are looking at the PPP route to develop the aerodrome,” said V P Agrawal, AAI chairman. But, he said, the total redevelopment amount could increase if the state decides to build the proposed tunnel road.
05/02/10 Shashank Shekhar/Indian Express

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Categories: Airports Feb 2010, New Feb 2010