Mumbai: Addressing an industry conference in Mumbai Sunday, Union minister for civil aviation Ajit Singh confronted questions about the delay in the commencement of the Navi Mumbai airport that is choking the air traffic development in Mumbai.
Maharashtra chief secretary Jayant Banthia, who was also present, answered that 70% land acquisition for the new airport has been completed and the state government is now in the process of relocating high tension wires. The Navi Mumbai airport was originally scheduled to begin operations in 2015-16 but that appears unlikely. Addressing the 11th Routes Asia Conference in Mumbai, Ajit Singh said the ongoing modernization and expansion being carried out at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport would enable it to handle up to 40 million passengers per annum.
The minister said that the airline industry in India is witnessing a revival. He said various policy measures have begun to yield results and hoped that the general aviation business will emerge as a key driver of regional connectivity and economic development.
17/03/13 Bella Jaisinghani/Times of India
