With the capacity to handle 3.2 million metric tonnes of cargo, Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), to be inaugurated on Wednesday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will boost the automobile, electronics, pharma, and agro-processing industries in Pune, besides facilitating seamless international travel for residents, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said on Tuesday. "It is not just a historic moment for Mumbai but for the entire western Maharashtra region. This airport will open new avenues of international connectivity, employment, and investment for regions including Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Kolhapur, Satara, and Solapur," said Mohol, who is also the MP for Pune. Navi Mumbai International Airport Private Limited is a special-purpose vehicle created for the design, development, construction, operation, maintenance, management, and expansion of the greenfield international airport project. The project is being developed under a public-private partnership between Mumbai International Airport Limited and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco). "For Pune residents, this airport brings dual advantages. Due to congestion at Mumbai airport, international flight slots are limited. With Navi Mumbai Airport, there will be greater availability of international flights. Additionally, industries in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Baramati will now have access to a modern, nearby cargo hub for exports,” he said. ‘Reduced cargo time to lower export cost’ The state-of-the-art cargo terminal built at the airport is capable of handling approximately 3.2 million metric tonnes of cargo annually, Mohol said, adding that it would simplify exports for industries in Pune district, including automobile, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and agri-processing sectors. “It will be possible to reach the airport directly from Pune in two and a half to three hours. This will reduce air cargo transit time and lower export costs," he said. Mohol said, “Mumbai’s natural expansion direction is now moving toward Pune. This airport will accelerate the development of a new industrial corridor in the Pune-Mumbai metropolitan region. Navi Mumbai International Airport is being developed as one of the most advanced and sustainable airports in the country. With features like 47 megawatts of solar power generation, rainwater harvesting, and the use of electric vehicles, it will truly be a ‘green airport’.” For the people of Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and surrounding areas as well as industries and the tourism sector, the airport will be a "global gateway to growth", Mohol said. Among the beneficiaries will be many multinational manufacturers and the automotive industry in the Talegaon and Chakan areas, as well as IT companies at Hinjewadi and Marunji. Also, areas like Punawale, Kiwale, and Gahunje in Pimpri-Chinchwad will gain prominence because of Navi Mumbai International Airport.
