According to plans already afoot, the ministry hopes that congestion in all major airports will ease by 2008 when the second runway in Delhi would be ready and new airports get operational in Hyderabad and Bangalore.

Mumbai, however, will continue to face this problem as no second runway is possible at the existing airport.

A third airport at Thane presents an interim solution. Officials feel this airport may be closed when Navi Mumbai airport comes up.

It is 32 km from the existing airport, same as Navi Mumbai. Since a technical clearance was obtained for Navi Mumbai from the International Civil Aviation Organisation, a project with similar technical parameters can get the ICAO nod soon.

While the Civil Aviation Ministry says that the proposal is still at a very preliminary stage, sources say that a decision will have to be taken soon if the main purpose of decongesting Mumbai airport in 2008 has to be met.