State proposes third airport at Kalyan, Navi Mumbai

Mumbai: Not satisfied with a second airport sanctioned at Navi Mumbai, the state government has proposed a third airport—on what used to be a World War II airfield at Kalyan.
The Maharashtra government sent a proposal to this effect to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry last week.
The state government justifies the need for a third airport by pointing to the ever-increasing passenger numbers.
"There is a World War II airfield lying unused at Kalyan (50 kms from Mumbai), which has a vast stretch of land but no airstrip. We are trying to see whether it can be converted into a full-fledged airport", said Maharashtra Civil Aviation Secretary Sanjay Ubale.
But the Centre is less than enthusiastic. Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel felt that three airports within a 100 kms radius were impractical.
29/10/06 Lalatendu Mishra/Hindustan Times

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