Navi Mumbai airport site won't be changed: Patel
Against the backdrop of Union Environment Ministry's objections to the site chosen for a greenfield airport coming up at Navi Mumbai.
By PTI |
MUMBAI: Against the backdrop of Union Environment Ministry's objections to the site chosen for a greenfield airport coming up at Navi Mumbai, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said ruled out a change of place for the Rs 9,000 crore project.
Asked if the Navi Mumbai airport site will be changed, Patel told PTI that the site will not be changed.
He said his ministry would pursue the matter keeping in view the need for a second airport. Mumbai airport is already under tremendous pressure and is expected to handle passengers far exceeding its capacity.
Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has already announced that he would personally take up the Navi Mumbai airport issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the second airport was vital for Mumbai.
Environmental clearance has not been forthcoming so far apparently because the airport would involve reclamation of low-lying areas in an ecologically fragile zone as well as destruction of several hectares of mangroves.
As the large chunk of land needed for building a big airport is not available in Mumbai, the government chose the 1,140 hectare site at Panvel, 35 km away from Mumbai.
Asked if the Navi Mumbai airport site will be changed, Patel told PTI that the site will not be changed.
He said his ministry would pursue the matter keeping in view the need for a second airport. Mumbai airport is already under tremendous pressure and is expected to handle passengers far exceeding its capacity.
Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has already announced that he would personally take up the Navi Mumbai airport issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the second airport was vital for Mumbai.
Environmental clearance has not been forthcoming so far apparently because the airport would involve reclamation of low-lying areas in an ecologically fragile zone as well as destruction of several hectares of mangroves.
As the large chunk of land needed for building a big airport is not available in Mumbai, the government chose the 1,140 hectare site at Panvel, 35 km away from Mumbai.
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