Maharashtra bullish on Centre's regional connectivity scheme

State will discuss lower VAT on ATF, deployment of police and fire services and waiver in parking and landing charges

Maharashtra has expressed desire to join Centre’s regional connectivity scheme (RCS) for the development of existing airstrips and airports to promote passenger and cargo services. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is slated to meet Union civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapati Raju next Tuesday.

At present, 36 airstrips and airports across Maharashtra are under the jurisdiction of multiple agencies, including Airports Authority of India, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation and Maharashtra Airports Development Centre. The state government will propose to expand some of these airports under the RCS.

A state government official said, “Airport at Shirdi and Amravati under the MADC’s jurisdiction will be proposed under RCS. The state government is also in discussion with the ministry of civil aviation to consider Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Gondia (under AAI jurisdiction), Ratnagiri, Solapur (under MIDC jurisdiction) for development under RCS. On August 23, the CM will discuss the proposal on the imposition of just 1 per cent VAT on aviation fuel for airstrips and airports under RCS. Besides, the government will submit plan to offer slew of sops for the handling of cargo and helicopter services from airstrips and airports under RCS.”

The government will rope in state security agencies and fire services for necessary services at these airports. Furthermore, the government may waive off landing and parking charges at these airports.

Meanwhile, the Rs 90,000-crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train has hit a major hurdle over the allocation of land for its station in the plush Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). Fadnavis, during an interaction with industry representatives organised by FICCI, admitted that the state government and railways differed on the issue of land allocation.

He said the railways ministry has suggested allocation of land in BKC which has been identified for the development of international finance centre (IFC). The state government has instead recommended that railways can consider land near Bandra terminus. “Besides, the state government has proposed that the railways can explore an option of underground station below the proposed IFC. We hope to settle the issue soon,” he noted.