Navi Mumbai Airport to get wings by end of this year

The development of Navi Mumbai International Airport project will commence by end 2014, informs Dr Mohan Ninawe, Public Relations Officer, CIDCO Ltd.
NMIA (Navi Mumbai International Airport) is going to be one of the largest Greenfield international airports. Currently proposed for development, the airport will be built through public-private partnership among yet to be chosen private sector partner (74 per cent equity), Airports Authority of India (13 per cent) and the Government of Maharashtra, through CIDCO (13 per cent). The airport master plan will be developed in modules, operated and managed to internationally recognised standards. In an exclusive conversation with Subhajit Roy, Dr Mohan Ninawe shares how the proposed airport is expected to cater for the future growth in population, business and commercial activities of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
What is the current status of the project?Currently, all the permission are in CIDCO’s hand, everything. All the permissions from MoEF, High Court and defence, are with us. Now we have to only float the RFQ to select the strategic partner, and we will float it by end January.
Did you shortlist any PPP?No. GVK has the first right of refusal because it has constructed the redevelopment of Mumbai Airport.
What about the land acquisition?Land acquisition process is going on. All the villagers are agreeing on compensation related to the land acquisition. They are agreed and we have already started the survey.
What is the percentage or quantity of land you have already acquired?75 per cent of land is already acquired; only 25 per cent land has to be acquired. There is about 450 acres of land to be acquired out of 2,076 acres, and we are in the process to acquire that.
Are you looking at any critical areas in terms of land acquisition?We don’t have any problem right now. All the land owners have been compensated for the land acquisition as per the package declared by the Government of Maharashtra.
Are the PAPs happy with the compensation what you have given?Absolutely because this is the first time in India, we are giving them a developed land in place of the land acquisition. We are providing them 22.5 per cent developed land in lieu of acquired land.
Where are you going to resettle them?We are developing a separate node named as Pushpak where we’ll give them 22.5 per cent land. The land for Pushpak project is already under CIDCO’s possession.
What about the NAINA project?When MoEF approved NAINA (Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area) project, they said that the development in and around the area should be of planned. We are the premier authority for that entire NAINA project with more than 600 hectares area including 270 villages. The project will be located right from Panvel to Alibag and Pen.
This is a dream project for Maharashtra. What sort of socio-economic development are you expecting for the region?With this kind of project, the development of the region will definitely happen. With the declaration of the airport project and commencement of land acquisition, the real estate price has already come up.
Any other major development, you would like to mention?Parallel to the development of this airport, other industry will definitely come to this area like hospitality industry and other related activities. People will get the employment in nearby areas.
How are you going to connect Navi Mumbai metro project with Navi Mumbai airport project?In the first phase of metro project, we have started the development from Belapur to Pendhar. Later on, we will connect it to Navi Mumbai airport.
As you mentioned that you are going to float the RFQ by January end, so how are you going to take it further?We will first qualify the bidders, then the rest of procedure should start. It will take 8 to 9 months to finalise strategic partners who will have the 76 per cent stakes. Then, they will finalise the development model and start working.
When the project is expected to commence?End of this year.

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