Navi Mumbai airport to give city a shot in the arm

“The present airport will be saturated by 2014 or maybe even within next two years and therefore it was essential that the city gets another airport. Even the old airport has its own drawbacks because of its location in the heart of the city,” said Sushil Jiwarajka,Western Region Head,Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

On the new airport’s economic impact in the region both at the micro and macro level,Jiwarajka said that the most immediate impact of the project will be on the nearby regions from Kharghar to Panvel and beyond,which will see rapid development.

“Industrial units will find it easier to shift their cargo for air freight operations and also the area will see new residential and hotel complexes sprouting up,” he added. According to the State Industrial & Investment Corporation of Maharashtra (SICOM),on the macro level,with the second airport in place,the state is expected to attract higher levels of foreign direct investment (FDI). It will also increase Mumbai’s contribution to the country’s GDP.

According to the City Industrial & Development Corporation (CIDCO),the most prominent reason for choosing the new airport is the fact that Navi Mumbai is expected to absorb all future growth in population,business and commercial activity of the region.

For the aviation sector,the new airport would promise airlines companies congestion free airspace that would result is efficient handling of arrivals and departures giving their passengers a pleasant experience. “The issue of congestion both in air and on the ground,will be taken care off,at least for the time being,” said Air India’s Executive Director (Corporate Communications),Jitender Bhargava.

“If you see,New York has the JFK and New Jersey has Newark International airports so in that respect,it is a classic comparison there. The new airport will definitely improve business in Mumbai and its periphery,” said Raj Shroff,Chairman,Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee’s (MPCC) Business and Industry cell and Managing Director,Charak Pharma. According to Shroff,the new airport would also allow better connectivity to smaller cities.

The need for the new airport was also emphasised upon by Sanjay Reddy,MD,GVK industries that operates the Mumbai airport,in a presentation to mediapersons earlier this month. “We really look forward to the speedy completion of the new airport and will wait till the government comes up with the bidding process,” said a MIAL spokesperson.