State seeks an airport in Kalyan

The Maharashtra government is awaiting the civil aviation ministry’s approval to its proposal of building an airport in Kalyan, 55 km from Mumbai, to ease air traffic congestion, a top state official said on Sunday.

The proposal is centred round 1500 acres of land which was used as an air strip during World War II. The state has forwarded it to the Union ministry, seeking its nod. “Chief secretary DK Sankaran has sent a proposal to the aviation ministry, asking them if there is a possibility of developing an airport in Kalyan,” said a senior official.

But, the civil aviation ministry is not very keen on the idea, at least for now. “It is important to focus on the second airport in Navi Mumbai. The Navi Mumbai airport already has the necessary clearances and is only 20 nautical miles from the existing airport,” said aviation minister Praful Patel.

The existing airport at Sahar is being upgraded by GVK-SA consortium and Airports Authority of India. The proposed airport at Kalyan, if approved, will take Mumbai closer to fulfilling Prime Minister Singh’s vision of turning the city into an Asian economic hub.