Maharashtra grounds proposal to extend Juhu airstrip

To operationalise the plan, the AAI had approached the state government for lifting public reservations on the land required for the expansion. But the latter has rejected this proposal.

The much-touted development plan for the Juhu aerodrome, the country’s oldest airstrip, has been grounded for now. The BJP government in Maharashtra has shot down the Airport Authority of India’s (AAI) proposal to extend the Juhu runway into the sea.

The AAI, which manages the Juhu airport, had planned to extend the existing 1,140-metre runway by another 800 metres to enable it to accommodate turboprops and small passenger jets. For this, it had drawn up a Rs 200-crore development plan. The plan was to utilise the facility, currently used for helicopter operations, to ease traffic at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport of Mumbai, which is situated a few kilometres away.

To operationalise the plan, the AAI had approached the state government for lifting public reservations on the land required for the expansion. But the latter has rejected this proposal.

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The AAI had sought dereservation of lands earmarked for playgrounds, gardens, recreational grounds, sports complex and municipal schools in the city’s development plan.

Senior state officials confirmed to The Indian Express that the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led Urban Development department has opined against lifting these reservations. Sources said the CM will accept his department’s opinion and reject AAI’s proposal.

Senior officials said the civic body too has argued against the proposal. While the Juhu airport development plan was first conceived several years ago, the AAI had revived it during the previous Congress-NCP government’s tenure. After taking over reins in Maharashtra, Fadnavis had ordered a review of the proposal.

Sources said the state government’s primary objection to the proposal was that it clashes with the plan of constructing a coastal ring road around Mumbai.

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Further, the BMC is also wary of public backlash over dereservation of lands reserved for open public spaces.

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