MUMBAI: Former Shiv Sena (UBT) minister Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday urged Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to approve two new airports at Palghar and Fardapur (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) and sought clarity on the status of the proposed airport in Pune. . and Nashik. He said that the development of these airports would spur progress and enhance passenger connectivity, industry, agriculture and tourism in these areas. Thackeray Jr referred to the Union Budget 2023-2024 and welcomed the plan to develop/upgrade 50 airports/helipads/seaports in the country, but lack of details was causing confusion, asked Scindia for civil aviation development In Maharashtra, asked to give priority to
He pointed out that during his tenure as Maharashtra minister, his focus was on taking forward several major projects including the third airport for Mumbai at Palghar and the development of the Fardapur airfield.
While the Navi Mumbai airport will be ready soon, Mumbai will need a third airport in the next 10 years, and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had asked the Maharashtra Airport Development Company to start work on the Palghar airport.
It would provide several benefits, including a revenue generator if it provided a passenger airport, cargo hub and parking facilities for aircraft, he claimed in the 2-pager.
On the Fardapur project that the Thackeray government was exploring, Thackeray Jr said Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) attracts thousands of tourists to see the wonders of the Ajanta-Ellora caves, but the nearest airport is 160 kms away, making travel difficult. It happens. ,
Thackeray Jr also urged Scindia to resolve issues related to the Nashik and Pune airports – the latter’s expansion plan or a new airport being a long-standing demand that could provide global connectivity to the state’s cultural capital Is.
Referring to Nashik, he said it is a matter of great pain as it is one of the holiest cities with rich heritage like Pune and needs to be linked with an airport of global standards.
“I have only mentioned some points of potential and constraints in the field of civil aviation of Maharashtra, directly linking it to industry, agriculture, tourism development… I hope you will take cognizance of my humble request and give justice for the civil aviation needs of Maharashtra,” concluded Thackeray Jr.