Brushing aside all doubts over the Multimodal International Hub Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) project,Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) Managing Director R C Sinha has said no experts can wish Nagpur away as the chosen destination for Indias international air passenger and cargo hub. Sinha was reacting to The Indian Express report last week about MIHAN being mired in doubts in the light of the report by a Planning Commission expert committee headed by former member Anwarhul Hoda that New Delhi should be the ideal choice for setting up the international air hub of the country. Talking to The Indian Express,Sinha said,Nagpur as the international air hub has been okayed by the Union Cabinet and has been announced on the floor of Parliament. No expert opinion can now influence any change in it. Any expert saying anything now doesnt hold much water. Asked why then all the proposed projects are hanging fire,Sinha said,thats because of the general slowdown,not because there is any doubt over Nagpurs choice. About Boeing not yet starting work on its proposed Manintenace,Repair and Overhaul (MRO) depot,Sinha said,that too is because of the global economic slowdown. And I can appreciate that. They,however,are committed to starting it at Nagpur and there is no reason why anyone should doubt that. Despite Sinhas optimism,however,some long-pending problems have indeed caused concern to MIHAN officials. The handover of the Nagpur International Airport to the joint venture company of MADC and Airports Authority of India (AAI) has remained the main roadblock despite Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel claiming to be pushing for it. Despite the formal handover in February,the JV company hasnt yet come into existence. There are some differences still over shareholders agreement that is due to be signed between us. We have a meeting coming up on Friday and hope to sort it out. If not,I will personally meet Praful Patel and request his intervention in the matter, Sinha admitted. One of the main fallouts of the delay has been Deccan Air Cargos cargo hub project remaining in limbo. Announced amidst much fanfare last year,the project was to come up within 15 months. Yet,nothing is happening on the ground since the company hasnt yet been given possession of the land they have selected. The land proposed for them is still under AAI control. Once the JV company comes into existence,they can be formally given its possession. I have requested Captain Gopinath to wait till the end of this month. Else,he is free to take it anywhere he wants, Sinha said. Also hanging fire is the shifting of the Air Forces Gajraj aircraft base to an alternative piece of land. And the reason is again the same the airport still being in no mans hand.
