TBM Staff - Mumbai
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol announced on Sunday that the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) will be ready by March 2025 and commence operations immediately. He stated that around 70% of the work at NMIA, initially scheduled for completion by December 2024, has been completed, and the remaining 30% will be finished by March.
During his maiden visit to Pune, his constituency, Mohol also discussed expansion plans for the Pune airport. The expansion will enable wider-body aircraft to land, enhancing international connectivity from Pune. The runway at the existing airport will be expanded to accommodate Type B and D aircraft, which currently cannot operate from Pune due to its limitations.
To facilitate the runway expansion, the airport will need to acquire 35 acres of land, including defense and privately owned land. Officials will meet Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to facilitate defense land acquisition and clearances.
The compensation for land owners will be split among the Maharashtra government (60%), Pune Municipal Corporation (20%), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (10%), and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (10%).
The new terminal building at Pune airport, valued at INR 475 crore, is ready but not operational due to a lack of security personnel. Airports Authority of India (AAI) is awaiting regulatory clearance from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security. Mohol has reached out to Home Minister Amit Shah to augment the CISF force, and the new terminal will be operational once the necessary CISF manpower is available.
Additionally, Mohol announced that the Director General of Civil Aviation has approved the Purandar site for Pune’s greenfield international airport. All technical clearances are in place, and the land acquisition process will now begin.
