Navi Mumbai Airport Clearance - Ambani might have influenced it

Mumbai's second international airport at Panvel, which has been 10 years in the planning, is likely to get Union Cabinet approval in a month's time, according to Mr Sanjay Ubale, Secretary, Special Projects, Government of Maharashtra.

Soon after Cabinet approval, and after environment impact assessment (being done by Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay), tenders would be issued for the project, he said.

The airport would be fully operational by 2009, added Mr D.K. Sankaran, Chief Secretary, Maharashtra, at a news briefing on the "transformation of Mumbai into a world-class metropolis."

CIDCO, the city's planning agency for Navi Mumbai (where Panvel is located) has already acquired 2,058 hectares or 90 per cent of the land required for the airport, he said.

By the time it is ready, the airport will cost Rs 9,000 crore, said Mr Ubale.

A special purpose vehicle is being established for the project. The Maharashtra Government and the Airports Authority of India will hold 13 per cent stake each in the SPV, while the private developer will hold 74 per cent.

Other key infrastructure projects necessary for the airport, such as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Sea Link project, which will connect Navi Mumbai with Mumbai itself, were also being accelerated, said the Chief Secretary. Mumbai must not lose out to other cities such as Hyderabad and Bangalore, said Mr Sankaran.