Pre-development works for Navi Mumbai International Airport to begin by March

 

Pre-development works for Navi Mumbai International Airport to begin by March

Until now development activities for Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) have been limited only on paper, but come February end or March and the work will commence at the airport location site.

Although, the actual airport construction will not commence, what will happen is "pre-development works" to complete the first phase of the international airport by 2019.

"Pre-development works for the NMIA will begin soon. Things are progressing as per our expectations and work orders for them will be issued by mid-February," said V Radha, joint managing director of city and industrial development corporation (Cidco).

The pre-development works include diversion of Ulwe River, flattening or cutting down hills-hillocks and abandoned quarries, clearing green patches, levelling of ground, among others. The importance of the works can be gauged by the fact that the total worth of pre-development works has been estimated to be around Rs3,000 crore in an area spread over 1,160 hectares.

"The entire work for the first stage has been divided into four packages. Evaluation for the three technical packets are almost done, while for the fourth will be through by January 15. Thereafter, financial bids will be opened for scrutiny and evaluation. It will be done in February and we will be in a position to issue work orders by mid-February," said Radha.

Cidco already has possession of 94 per cent of the 1,160 hectares required for core aeronautical activity, the balance is expected to be in in another two months. Once the pre-development work is done, construction of the airport is scheduled to commence from September–October 2016 and first phase is expected to be thrown open to the passengers by mid-2019.

According to the projections, in the first year, the new airport will cater to 10 million passengers and gradually as the airport's handling capacity increases it will be able to handle 60 million passengers annually. Despite expansion, existing Mumbai airport's capacity is almost saturated with 40 million passengers every year.

Bidding for MTHL to commence from March
Bidding process for Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) is likely to commence from March onwards as the pre-development works will commence at the planned airport site in Navi Mumbai.

The loan agreement between Japanese International Loan Agency (JICA) and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for borrowing Rs8,800 crore out of the estimated Rs11,000 crore for the project is scheduled to be signed in March this year.

This 22-km link between Sewri in Mumbai to Chirle near Nhava in Navi Mumbai will be the longest sea bridge in India. The bridge will also have view barriers to restrict sight of vital installation of BARC and refineries.

With the time frame of finishing the project in 2019, it is crucial for the success of the first phase of planned Navi Mumbai International Airport which too is scheduled for completion by mid-2019.

Currently, the process is on to get environment clearance from the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) as it was suspended by National Green Tribunal in October 2015. Back in 2013, the MoEF had granted clearance to the project.

Initially, MMRDA had planned to also have a metro line on the sea link, but it was dropped later. Thereafter, an attempt was made to implement the sea link project with the help of private players through Public Private Partnership financial model. But none of the private players came forward to submit the bids.

The prime reason for no-show was uncertainty over Navi Mumbai International Airport construction plans.

CONNECTIVITY
A right turn from Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai will lead to the new airport. Similarly, those coming from Pune or Panvel will be able to reach here from JNPT Road also known as Panvel Bypass Road. Additionally, for Mumbaikars, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link will connect the airport from Sewri.

At the moment, it takes over one-and-a-half hours to reach the Navi Mumbai International Airport site or Ulwe, once the airport is operational by 2019 the time to reach the location will only increase. To reach faster, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link is being planned. Once it is ready, it will take around 45 minutes to reach the new airport.