3rd airport for city at Thane?

MUMBAI: In a couple of decades from now, flying to Mumbai could mean choosing one of three airports for landing—the Mumbai airport, the Navi Mumbai airport and one at Thane.

Even as plans for the construction of Navi Mumbai airport are far from being in full swing, Thane is being looked at as a possible site for a third airport in the area.

Introducing the Thane plan, managing director of Maharashtra Airport Development Company Ltd (MADC), R C Sinha, said that the proposal for an airport which could handle the boom in domestic air traffic was mooted with a view to providing capacity when Navi Mumbai airport reached saturation point.

“On Saturday, we asked the Thane collector to identify the land for the purpose. The MADC is looking at 1,800 acres for Thane airport,’’ Sinha said, adding that an airport in Thane would not interfere with the navigation corridors around Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports. “Once the land is identified, MADC will place a proposal before the state cabinet for approval,’’ he added.

When asked about the deadline for carrying out the project, Sinha said that there wasn’t any. The project will, however, take high priority in MADC’s 25-year development plan.

MADC’s move gains significance in light of the civil aviation ministry’s recent focus on airports around metros. While 35 airports in non-metros are currently being upgraded, the ministry also plans to introduce exclusive licences for regional airlines to promote air connectivity in non-metros.

Incidentally, the Thane airport will be the second greenfield airport in the state, which has 21 air-strips, most of them not in heavy use.