New Delhi, May 1: Ahead of the Navi Mumbai International Airport that is being at Ulwe Kopar-Panvel in Maharashtra, the state is all set to get a new airport at Parule-Chipi in Sindhudurg district in 2018. Sindhudurg airport will have a 2500-meter runway which has provision for future development. The airport will be built at an approximate cost of 520 crores.

According to a government release, the work on the airport project in Sindhudurg is expected to be completed in June this year, before the onset of monsoon and the Ganesh Festival, which will begin in September this year.

On the other hand, the Navi Mumbai International Airport aimed at easing air traffic congestion at CSIA has been delayed due to property disputes. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on March 6, 2018 said the construction of one terminal building and a runway of the much-awaited Navi Mumbai international airport will be completed by next year end (2019).

It must be noted that the Sindhudurg airport will have the capacity to handle 200 departing and 200 passengers arriving during peak hours with expansion facilities to serve up to 400 departing and 400 arriving passengers without additional construction. Although the airport will be serving domestic travellers it will be equipped with facilities to serve International charter flights.

The airport is being constructed by IRB Sindhudurg Airport Pvt. Ltd. on a design-build-finance-operate-transfer (DBFOT) basis for the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). An airport in Sindhudurg was necessary in order to provide better connectivity to the Konkan region of Maharashtra, parts of Goa, North Karnataka and Western Maharashtra. At present, the state of Maharashtra has three functional international and 13 domestic airports.

An airport in Sindhudurg was necessary in order to provide better connectivity to the Konkan region of Maharashtra, parts of Goa, North Karnataka and Western Maharashtra. At present, the state of Maharashtra has three functional international and 13 domestic airports.

An agreement for construction of the airport has already been signed between Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and IRB Sindhudurg airport Pvt. Ltd. in 2009. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has given in-principle approval and environmental clearance has also been granted by the Ministry of Environment and Forest.

Construction of taxiway, apron and isolation bay has been completed and work on the airfield ground lighting in on. Construction of passenger terminal building, ATC tower and a technical building is on in full swing. Construction of other ancillary buildings is in progress and will be completed on time.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 01, 2018 08:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).