PM fast-tracks Navi Mumbai, Pune international airports

MUMBAI: Living up to the expectations in a pre- election year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday fast-tracked three international airports in the state and pushed for mass transport projects in the city.

Singh assured Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan cooperation in expediting new airports in Navi Mumbai, Pune and the upgrading of Nagpur airport. Chavan said the work on Navi Mumbai airport, including tendering, would start by early next year. A greenfield airport will come up in Pune’s Khed tehsil, while Nagpur’s existing airport would be expanded to accommodate India’s first international cargo hub.

The CM said that tendering of Navi Mumbai airport would be finalised by early 2014. “We will invite the ‘request for qualification’ documents in the last week of his month or the first week of December.”

The Centre and state would launch a joint study on Mumbai’s transport pattern before beginning work on a coastal road and water transport.

According to Chavan, the Churchgate-Virar elevated airconditioned railway corridor may begin from Bandra and end at Virar because it clashes with the Colaba—SEEPZ metro line, which will also provide equally comfortable air-conditioned ride.

“We have to consider the impact these two lines could have on each other’s business if we allow them to run parallel,” Chavan told the media after the meeting.