Mumbai International Airport Ltd has moved the Bombay High Court challenging a lower court's order preventing it from evicting an aircraft repair company for building a new taxiway.
MUMBAI: Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has moved the Bombay High Court challenging a lower court's order preventing it from evicting an aircraft repair company for building a new taxiway.
MIAL had served eviction notices to Indmar and two petrol pumps outside the airport in view of proposals to construct a new taxiway at Mumbai's international airport and an elevated road connecting the domestic and international airports.
MIAL argued that Indmar and two petrol pump owners -- ICARPORT and Sahara -- are encroachers. The notices have also been issued to Reliance, Essar and Raymonds which have hangars at the airport.
MIAL's application states that Mumbai international airport spread across 1,976 acres is one of the smallest in the country. International airports at New Delhi and Hyderabad are spread over 5,000 acres.
To accommodate a projected passenger traffic growth of 80 million and 20 million tonnes for cargo over the next 20 years, MIAL is building a new apron, parking bay and a taxiway to reduce delays in aircraft landings and takeoffs.
"Limited availability of land, especially limited availability of runway and aircraft parking capacity, has been hampering the development and modernisation of the airport," MIAL contended.
The only option left is to put existing land to optimal use. MIAL has therefore sought to evict the lessees who were given licences for hangars which are obstructing the proposed taxiway.
Denying the allegation that Indmar is an encroacher, its lawyer Raju Subramanian said: "My clients cannot be dispossessed without following the due process of law."
He said that MIAL's proposal to construct the taxiway has not yet been sanctioned by the government. Also, he rubbished MIAL's claim of Indmar posing a security risk.
Since commercial interests are at stake, Indmar is willing to vacate the premises if all other hangars are removed, he added.
The hearing will continue on Monday before Justice S J Vazifdar.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}