Maharashtra to make changes in Navi Mumbai airport project plans

NEW DELHI: The proposed Navi Mumbai airport is inching closer to getting clearance with the Maharashtra government signalling that it is ready to make changes to the project plan to address environmental concerns.

Changes are needed in plans such as development of hotels and the alignment of the runway. The environment ministry had indicated its unhappiness over the project developer’s continued disregard for its concerns. The project developer, City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco), is a corporate entity of the Maharashtra state government.

The state government has said that it will relocate the non-aeronautical and non-essential components of the project, such as five star hotels and shopping malls, away from the Navi Mumbai airport site. Sources in the government said that a couple of sites have been identified where facilities such as hotels, convention centres, and golf course could be developed. Cidco and the state government are keen on developing these non-aeronautical components as revenue earners. The decision will ensure that a substantial portion of the 400 acres of mangrove forest is left untouched.

After the meeting with the expert appraisal committee of the environment ministry, Cidco had indicated that it would take further steps to restrict diversion of the Gadhi river. A senior official said that the state government has agreed to consider changing the runway alignment for the proposed airport. This will ensure that neither the Gadhi nor Ulwe rivers are diverted.

The proposed changes to the plan will have to be approved by the civil aviation ministry before Cidco submits the new plans for environmental approval. The new plans are expected to be ready for consideration by early October.

Last week, civil aviation minister Praful Patel had said that the Navi Mumbai project was likely to be cleared by October end.