07 January,2009 08:54 AM IST | | PTI
Keen to start work on the international airport in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan would be giving a letter to the Prime Minister requesting to amend Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) norms to facilitate states withu00a0the CRZ norms, which restrict construction of the airport in CRZ area should be amended," an official from Urban Development Department told PTI.
A small portion of land for the proposed airport-about 150 out of the 2,000 hectares-has mangroves and falls under CRZ-I norms which prohibits airfield activities in the zone, the official said.
"The newly proposed Coastal Management Zone (CMZ) has a special provision for greenfield airport but it will take some time to come into force," he said.
In fact, many coastal states have opposed CMZ norms, so the Centre is reconsidering the CMZ proposal after discussing objections and suggestions submitted by the states.
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The Government wants to start the airport work by April 2009 and needs the CRZ clearance before that, he added.
The State Government has appointed City Industrial and Development Corporation (CIDCO) as the nodal agency for the Navi Mumbai airport.
The Rs 9,970 crore airport, scheduled to be ready by 2012, would be executed through public-private partnership. The State Government will make land available for the project free of cost.
The airport is expected to reduce the burden on the Mumbai airport and will have a capacity of handling two crore passengers, the official said.
