State govt shoots down Juhu airport expansion

Will hamper state's plan to build a Bandra-Versova sea-link

Maharashtra government has raised objections to Airport Authority of India's plan to extend the Juhu airport runway into sea as it will impact its proposed Bandra-Versova sea link project.

The Airport Authority of India which manages the Juhu airport had proposed to extend the existing 1,140 metre runway by 700-800 metres to enable it to accommodate turboprops and small passenger jets. Juhu airport currently serves as a helibase for Mumbai and handles around 100 chopper movements daily. It can only accommodate small fixed wing planes due to the smaller length of its runway. Plans to extend the runway were mooted to ease congestion at Mumbai airport and shift the slower moving turbo props and private jets to Juhu.

Although the Juhu airport expansion had been conceptualised several years ago, AAI is trying to revive the project again as the Navi Mumbai airport has been delayed.

However, the state government does not seem to be in favour of the plan. According to sources,  Maharashtra chief secretary J K Banthia conveyed to Airport Authority of India chairman V P Agarwal that locals might object to the plan. An another reason for state's reluctance to the airport expansion is its own proposal to build a sea link from Bandra to Versova and an extended runway could impact its alignment and create complication.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation has recently secured the green nod for the Bandra-Versova sea link.

Banthia and Agarwal were not available for comment. A senior state official said "The proposal will require environment impact assessment. The extension of runway will mean barricading of runway. It will mean closure of  half of the beach and this will not go down well with the residents.''

Sources however said that extension of runway itself may not be of much use and will not help in reducing the load of Mumbai airport. While small passenger aircraft operations can be shifted to Juhu making more space at Mumbai the take off at both the airports have to be synchronised. "Simultaneous take offs will not be possible because of alignment of runway. Also both the airports are just 2.5 kms away,'' an aviation source said. Even now about 700 metres of runway is not available and the touch down point is beyond that from the  eastern side approach. This is because of presence of buildings surrounding the airport. "Even after the extension the problem will persist. Otherwise landing will have to be carried out from over the sea from the western side. But this will bring the planes in direct path of planes taking off from Mumbai's main runway and hence is unviable,'' he added.