Civil aviation ministry wants Maharashtra government to realign Bandra-Versova sea link and construct an under sea tunnel to facilitate the extension of Juhu airport runwway.
Juhu airport is used for helicopter operations and in view of congestion at Mumbai airport and delays in development of Navi Mumbai airport the civil aviation ministry is pushing for the expansion of Juhu airport. Plans include extending the 1140 metre main runway into sea by another 700 metre to allow movement of turbo prop planes. However the project faces many hurdles as the extended runway will affect the alignment of the proposed Bandra-Versova sea link.
It is learnt that the civil aviation ministry has written to the state government to realign the sea link with a tunnel under the Juhu beach. Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation proposes to build the sea link which will be built nearly a kilometre away from the beach front. Maharashtra chief secretary J K Banthia will meet civil aviation ministry officials on Friday to discuss the issue.
04/04/13 Aneesh Phadnis/Business Standard
