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Government considers shifting of domestic ops back to T1

The airline's efforts have now got a further push, with Rajyasabha MP Parimal Nathwani recently writing to prime minister Narendra Modi and asking his government to reconsider the decision and shift the domestic operations back to domestic terminal.

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With a leading domestic carrier showing apprehension over shifting its operations to state-of-the-art Terminal 2 (T2) at Mumbai airport in Sahar from domestic terminal (T1) in Vile Parle, the civil aviation ministry is mulling over shifting the operations back to its earlier position.

The airline's efforts have now got a further push, with Rajyasabha MP Parimal Nathwani recently writing to prime minister Narendra Modi and asking his government to reconsider the decision and shift the domestic operations back to domestic terminal. Nathwani, who is also group president (corporate affairs and projects) at Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), in the letter, said that shifting domestic operations to T2 which already handles international operations has resulted into added agonies and woes to domestic passengers. Nathwani could not be contacted for comments, a secretary said that he is busy with the ongoing Parliament session.

Nathwani, a native of Gujarat in his letter to the PM and civil aviation minister, further writes that CSIA is already counted among the busiest airports in the country and the traffic is set to grow in future. Shifting of domestic passengers to T2 will add to the congestion at the terminal and thereby causing inconvenience to the passengers.

In a reply, civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has written back to Nathwani saying, "I am having the matter examined."

Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), which operates the city airport, wanted the domestic operations to shift to T2, as that will leave space reportedly for commercial exploitation. At present, domestic operations of Tata group owned Vistara, national carrier Air India and Jet airways have begun functioning from T2, with airport operator wanting to shift the remaining domestic airlines at the earliest.

However, sources claim that a leading low cost carrier, which is among the remaining airlines, is sceptical of shifting and is not giving an inch to MIAL. The reason being that the airline fear that it the move will affect their operations causing delays as well as causing immense inconvenience to the passengers.

According to the available statistics, CSIA saw over 41.6 million passenger movement during 2015-16, though the projection for the same period was only of 35 million. MIAL had projected crossing over the capacity figure of 40 million only by 2018-19 and according to industry insiders, the figures are set to grow in near future.

MIAL sources on the other hand said that shifting the domestic operations to T2 will help bringing seamless connectivity into the operations and enhance efficiency of airlines and also bring convenience to the passengers.

MIAL spokesperson refused to comment on the issue.

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