Aeronautical areas (meant for public infrastructure development) at the city airport have allegedly decreased, while non-aeronautical areas (meant mainly for commercial exploitation) have increased, BJP MLA from Vile Parle Parag Alavani has alleged. Alavani has urged the new government to review the development plan of CSIA.
However, a spokesperson from the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) countered the allegations, saying, "The perception is incorrect. On the contrary, aeronautical area has increased." MIAL did not provide any further details about the size of the areas used for aeronautical and non-aeronautical purposes.
As per rules, a part of the aviation area is meant for infrastructure development like runways, taxi-ways, terminal building, air control tower, etc. These are called aeronautical areas. On the other hand, development of hotels, eateries, convention centers, etc., which are not directly related to infrastructure development but used by the airport operator for commercial exploitation come under non-aeronautical areas.
Airports are allowed to charge aeronautical as well as non-aeronautical charges from airlines, passengers and others for its development as per charges approved by aviation financial regulator, Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA).
In in his speech during the recently held assembly session in Nagpur, Alwani stated that a separate Development Plan (DP) was initiated for smooth development of MIAL. The airport is being run by a consortium lead by GVK. Alwani added that all the plans related to MIAL were swiftly passed under the separate DP. "The new government should review the earlier decision as the old DP plan is being done away with. The area meant for aeronautical development has reduced in size while the area for non-aeronautical purposes has increased," he added.
Speaking to dna, Alavani said, "There is lot of ambiguity over aeronautical and non-aeronautical areas and the new government should not let GVK exploit it at the cost of public interest."
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