1st phase of Navi Mumbai airport by 2013: says Praful

He said,“The Navi Mumbai Airport is coming up and the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO) has completed 70 per cent of the land acquisition. We are waiting for final approval from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. I do not see any problem in getting it.”

“The project has already been delayed by three years and any further delay is unimaginable now. Therefore,I am going to hold a meeting with the Chief Minister next week. I hope the first phase becomes operational by 2013. But we can use 2010 for at least initiating the tender procedure,” he said.

The minister added,“Till 2007,Mumbai airport was the busiest in India. Now it has been surpassed by Delhi airport,by way of better facilities and more capacity. Soon,the third largest terminal would become functional at Delhi airport before the Commonwealth Games…” Commenting on whether Delhi International Airport was capable of tackling problems like fog,Patel said,“It is a complete misinformation that the Instrument Landing System in Delhi is not up to the mark. In fact it operates under category III flight conditions and our pilots have been trained in it. But when the weather is bad,not only Delhi but also other airports across the world like Chicago are affected. In India,Delhi gives a cascading effect,as there are a number of flights connected to the capital.”