2 years on, Mumbai heliport project yet to take off

It has been over two years since the state government planned the ambitious heliport project for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). With not a single brick moving for over two years, the project seems to be in troubled waters.

As per the plan, the Urban Development Department (UDD) through the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) was to develop six heliports for ferrying civilian passengers within the MMR. Heliports at Navi Mumbai (Nerul), Nariman point, Cuff Parade and Chhatrapati Shivaji airport were to be operated on a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.

But the project faced a roadblock when both Nariman Point and Cuff Parade heliports were ruled out after the defence ministry raised objections to it.

“After Cuff Parade and Nariman Point were rejected, we have been asked to explore Mahalaxmi Race Course as an option. However, there are several impediments in this location. The race course land was on lease with the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC). The club charges Rs5,000 for every take-off and landing.

Meanwhile, our project is under the Greenfield airport policy of the civil aviation ministry, which says that there should not be any landing. This has virtually ruled out Mahalaxmi as one of the options,” said a senior MMRDA official, requesting anonymity.

Nandkumar Jantre, secretary, special projects, said that the project was facing some difficulty. But he was confident of getting the required permission. “We are still exploring the possibilities of having a heliport in either Nariman Point or Cuff Parade,” Jantre said.