The most awaited Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to start operations next year. The Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Sunday said that the airport construction will be completed by March 2025 and the operations will soon start.
Mohol also updated that around 70% of the work at NMIA, which was to be ready by December 2024, had been completed, and the remaining 30% of work would be completed by March.
The Minister of State also announced expansion plans for Pune airport. The expansion would enable wider-body aircraft to land and help improve international connectivity from Pune.
This he said on his maiden visit to Pune after taking charge as the Minister. Mohol was also elected as the member of parliament from Pune constituency.
At present, the runaway at Pune airport handles only Type C aircraft. The expansion plan would enable Type B and D aircraft to operate from Pune. The airport would need to acquire 35 acres, including defence and privately owned land, for this.
As per Financial Express, the officials also met defence minister Rajnath Singh to facilitate defence land acquisition and defence ministry clearances for the runway expansion. Around 60% of the compensation for land owners would come from Maharashtra government, 20% from the Pune Municipal Corporation and 10% each from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority.
Meanwhile the new Rs 475 crore terminal building at Pune airport is ready and yet non operational due to lack of security personnel. The Airport Authority of India is also awaiting regulatory clearance from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.
Mohol said he has reached out to home minister Amit Shah to augment the CISF force. The new terminal will be operational as soon as we get the CISF manpower, he said.
Also watch: Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development authority to sell 6,000 residential plots near Noida airport