Chief Minister designate in the new government Ashok Chavan is keen on taking up the new Chakan Airport project on a priority basis. Taking time out from discussions under way for cabinet berths in the new ministry, Chavan told The Indian Express on Tuesday he would focus on the project once the ministry is announced.

However, the state will not be able to adhere to the 2011 deadline set by Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel as the acquisition for the airport and clearances from the ministry are pending.

“I am committed to the project and will take it up on priority,” he said. It was in February that his ministry had given administrative sanction for the project, appointing Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) as a special planning authority for land acquisition and development of the airport. Seed money to the tune of Rs 200 crore was cleared then.

Though eight months have gone by, only Rs 60 crore has reached MADC, hampering the agency from undertaking any acquisition of land for the project. “Once the ministry is formed I will address the meeting and clear it,” said Chavan, who is also Chairman of MADC.

A senior MADC officer said the two elections within a few months and the swine flu scare in between saw the project being neglected. “We have written to the government to disburse funds as early as possible,” he said.

The MADC is on the verge of finalising its techno-feasibility consultant by the first week of November. “Even for this we need funds and we will be having a meeting with the board of directors on this issue,” he said.

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