Amid delays in developing the New Mumbai International Airport, the Maharashtra government and its undertaking, City and Industrial Development Corporation, (Cidco) have appealed to the Centre to transfer the entire project to it, according to the provisions of the Greenfield Airports Policy, 2008. The government and Cidco have argued the transfer of project would result in automatic transfer of the project appraisal mechanism to them, and this would save time, thereby helping expedite project development.
Cidco chairman Pramod Hindurao on Wednesday reiterated its proposal during his meeting with Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. Hindurao told Business Standard, “I have sought Pawar's intervention while arguing the transfer of the Navi Mumbai International Airport to the state is necessary, considering the time involved in getting clearances from the Centre and its various undertakings. I have also sought intervention to organise a meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh to argue our case."
Hindurao admitted Cidco, a nodal agency for the Navi Mumbai International Airport project, was yet to receive the approval for the request for qualification from the steering committee.