Pre-feasibility study begins for proposed greenfield airport near Maharashtra’s Vadhavan Port
The study, which will determine the progress of the airport, is expected to be completed in six to nine months, said a Maharashtra Airport Development Company Ltd officer.
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Authorities stated the new airport is being designed to cater to passenger as well as cargo requirements associated with the port and the neighbouring areas. (representative image)A pre-feasibility study for a greenfield airport proposed near the upcoming Vadhavan Port project in the Palghar district of Maharashtra began last week. It will study the conditions at the site, traffic projections, environmental factors, and viability of the project, and analyse potential integration with existing and future infrastructure developments, such as the Dedicated Freight Corridor and road connectivity to the port, said a Maharashtra Airport Development Company Ltd (MADC) officer
The study, which will determine the progress of the airport, is expected to be completed in six to nine months, the officer added.
MADC, working under the Maharashtra Government, has hired a joint venture of Grant Thornton and Nippon Koei India to conduct the study. The new airport is being developed to serve and supplement the deep-draft all-weather Vadhavan Port terminal, which is being built on the western coast of Maharashtra and located on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), according to an officer with the Vadhavan Port project.
“Once commissioned, it is anticipated to boost India’s container handling ability by an estimated 23.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs),” an officer from MADC said.
Authorities stated the new airport is being designed to cater to passenger as well as cargo requirements associated with the port and the neighbouring areas. It will also help offer air connectivity to industrial and warehousing belts in the area, including Bhiwandi and other logistics complexes in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
“The project is an integral part of a greater plan for building a multimodal logistics hub in the region. It encompasses the integration of rail, road, and air transport infrastructure supporting goods and people movement through Vadhavan Port. The airport will also alleviate congestion on current air and land transport links and enhance regional access,” said the officer.
“The final report will inform the government to decide on pursuing a detailed project report and subsequent approvals,” the officer stated.
The Vadhavan Port project is being developed by the Vadhavan Port Project Ltd, a joint venture by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB). The Union Cabinet has given in-principle approval for the project and is at the planning and land acquisition stage.
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