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Vashi2Panvel.com: Navi Mumbai: April 14: Every few weeks for the last one year, newspapers have been carrying reports and updates on the new international airport that has been propsed for Navi Mumbai. So far, Navi Mumbaikars still do not know very clearly if the airport is finally going to come up or not. Vashi2Panvel.com speaks to Budhbhushan Gaikwad, Chief Public Relations Officer, CIDCO in this connection.

Navi Mumbai is a rapidly developing modern metropolis on the mainland across the Mumbai harbour. The city is directly connected to not just Mumbai, but to the other parts of the region and the country as well. It can boast of being the largest totally planned, fully self contained, well balanced city in the world. The city is going to accommodate a target population of 2 million and jobs of 0.8 million in the near future in a series of self contained nodes strung along an efficient Mass Rapid Transport System. The well planned transport network consists of roads, railways and waterways. Subsequent upon need for a second airport felt due to existing Mumbai airport reaching saturation, it has been thought to set up the second airport at this developing satellite city.

Said Gaikwad, "The proposal for International Airport at Navi Mumbai is with the Government of India for the last 6-7 years. CIDCO has prepared techno economic feasibility report 4-5 years back and submitted to Ministry of Civil aviation, Government of India. The need for this airport is there, because there will be heavy air traffic congestion by 2010-2020 at Sahar and Santacruz airports. The Government was looking out for alternative airport arrangement at some other site, and CIDCO's proposal for international airport was submitted on behalf of the Government of Maharashtra to Government of India as single proposal.

"When this proposal was submitted, the Airport Authority of India and Civil Aviation Ministry asked CIDCO to conduct certain studies like techno economic study, hydrographic study , environmental impact study and many such studies were required to be done for the proposed international airport of Navi Mumbai.These all studies were conducted by CIDCO and report of the studies were submitted to the Civil Aviation Ministry. There was a committee appointed by Civil Aviation Ministry and the report was submitted to them. The CIDCO submitted all its report through Government of Maharashtra because the particular site is the only site recommended by Government of Maharashtra for the second international airport About a year back the Civil Aviation Ministry has asked CIDCO to conduct simulation study for the proposed International Airport at Navi Mumbai.The earlier techno economic feasibility study technically proved that this airport can be built here.

"Subsequently this study was asked to be done by the ministry. So CIDCO and Airport Authority of India are jointly doing this simulation study and the work of this simulation study is assigned to ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), Montreal Canada. Cost of study is being equally shared by CIDCO and Airport Authority of India The study was initiated 5-6 months back and we are expecting its report within 2-3 months. The report will be submitted again to Civil Aviation ministry they will be in a better position to make a judgment on the proposed Navi Mumbai International airport. We are hopeful and confident that it will materialise soon."

Despite the various delays--the project has been in the pipeline for the last seven years--it does seem in the next year 7 years or so--you just might be able to see the first flight taking off from a brand nerw airport in Navi Mumbai.

Umesh Malviya