Thrust is on affordable air travel, says PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the groundbreaking ceremony of Navi Mumbai International Airport and dedicated the 4th container terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust terminal-4 to the nation at Ulve in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.

Greeting the assembled crowd in Marathi, Modi said the government is transforming the aviation sector and focusing on providing connectivity and making air travel affordable by 2022. “The NMIA project was stalled for last 20 years. Former PM AB Vajpayee had conceptualized the idea of Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). However, in the last 15 years, nothing was done. When I took the PM’s office, I realised that such a crucial project was unnecessarily stalled by a previous government,” Modi said.

Modi criticised the Congress saying its government was famous for ‘latkana, atkana aaur patkana’ (stalling, blocking and grounding) the infrastructure and development projects and NMIA was one such stalled project. “There were more than 30 crucial and mega infrastructural projects that were stalled for flimsy reasons. We have revived all these projects and are doing diligent follow-up,” he said.

“We are fortunate to inaugurate two major projects — airport and JNPT terminal-4 — on the eve of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj birth anniversary,” said Modi.

He also praised Shivaji for exploring sea route for business purpose and protecting his territory. "Shivaji Maharaj was a very visionary king. We can learn a lot from him even today. Therefore, we have decided to connect the water, sea, land and air transport to each other state across India. We have to make the optimum use of all these routes. In global market, speed is very important. If we have ample goods, but cannot reach or supply them on time, then it will not make any profit. So, the speed of transport is key to the development and success. The world is vying for each other in this sector," Modi said adding that they are identifying various water routes for cheapest and fastest transport.

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said the government will try to connect NMIA to sea routes also. "We recently inaugurated the seaplanes in Mumbai. Once the seaplane starts operating across the city locations, then from anywhere people can reach the airport within 40 minutes. Besides, the JNPT port handles the 54% traffic of India. This entire port development will help to generate 1.25 lakh employment in Raigad itself," Gadkari said.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said NMIA is one of the largest greenfield projects in India. "We are grateful to local farmers and Prime Minister for extending all possible help. Once this airport is developed, it will at least add 1% to our GDP growth. We are sure that by December 2019, the first runway and terminal be ready and the first plane will also fly. GVK Power and Infrastructure Limited (GVKPIL) is also working hard to meet the deadline," said Fadnavis.

NMIA FEATURES

1,160 ha - Total area
2 - Number of runways
60M - passenger handling capacity per annum
4.79L - Aircraft ops per annum (including cargo)
78 - Total aircraft movements during peak hour
1,300 - Total passenger handling during peak hour
15.40L- Tonnes - Total cargo handling capacity per annum