While Maharashtra government has put rumours about contemplating shifting the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) project to another location in the wake of increasing cost to rest, officials from City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) have said something to worry people. They claim that delays in acquiring land for the airport and accepting the pending demands of project affected persons (PAPs) are affecting the ambitious project greatly.
“Over 10 years were wasted holding discussions about the project due to which the total project cost escalated to Rs15,000 crore from Rs4,000 crore. If the process is delayed further then the project will become financially unfeasible, and chances are there that the project might not happen,” Cidco joint managing director V Radha said while interacting with villagers from Chinchpada on Monday.
Radha was the chief guest at the ‘Government At Your Doorstep’ scheme launched by Cidco as part of its 26-point programme to sort out the pending demands of PAPs and look into their rehabilitation issues. “The NMIA project will provide employment to lakhs of people and the PAPs should take advantage of the same so that they can secure the future of their next generation. Cidco is implementing various projects beneficial for PAPs; the sons-of-the-soils should taking maximum advantage of this. Cidco administration needs support of PAPs for its various policies in order to realise the dream of having an international airport in Navi Mumbai,” Radha added.
Reacting on the official’s comments, PAPs’ leader and Uran legislator Vivek Patil said that if the NMIA project is getting delayed, then it is because of the state government.
“The poor farmers have not delayed the project. They are ready to give their lands provided their demands are accepted. If Cidco is not sympathetic towards their issues, then it is not their fault,” Patil added.
Earlier, Cidco distributed plots to villagers under state government’s 12.5% GES and cleared their files. In all, nine cases were cleared during a special drive during which allotment letters were given in seven cases, while in two cases, the agreements were executed. In all, land measuring 4,530 sq metre was distributed by the corporation during the special drive.
Will it take off?
While the state has put rumours about contemplating shifting the NMIA project to another location in the wake of increasing cost to rest, officials from Cidco have said something to worry people.
They claim that delays in acquiring land for the airport and accepting pending demands of PAPs are affecting the ambitious project greatly.
V Radha, Cidco JMD, said that over 10 years were wasted holding discussions about the project due to which the project cost escalated to Rs15,000 crore from Rs4,000 crore. If the process is delayed further then the project will become financially unfeasible.
