Ready for take off?

Fresh hope for Navi Mumbai airport as PMO sets December 2014 deadline, asks CIDCO to clear all administrative hurdles by end of next year so that work for the project can finally begin

It seems the Navi Mumbai airport plan may finally be fast-tracked. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) recently announced deadlines for key infrastructure projects in the city and Navi Mumbai’s most ambitious international airport project, too, featured in the list. The deadline for the project is 2014. CIDCO, which is the nodal agency for implementing the airport project, believes that the move will accelerate work on the project.

The cost of the airport is now estimated to be Rs 16 crore. Pic/Richa Pinto

A senior official from CIDCO said that with the state government focusing on getting the project off the ground, things could beexpected to move faster after the assembly session. In fact, a government resolution could come in sometime soon wherein CIDCO would be able to look into more than 8,000 cases of Project Affected Persons (PAPs) on a fast-track mode. “Land acquisition cases have been pending since decades and their cost runs into hundreds of crores of rupees. We will trying to deal with the grouses of the PAPs,” said an official on condition of anonymity.

The cost of the project, which was estimated at Rs 5 crore a decade ago, will now be almost Rs 16 crore. “The PMO’s deadlines should put systems back in place which will help speed things up,” added the official.u00a0The Navi Mumbai Airport would be able to cater to as many as six crore passengers and allow newer airlines to come up.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!