Q&A: Tanaji Satre, Joint Managing Director, Cidco

'Navi Mumbai to rise as meteorological superpower'

State-run City and Industrial Development Corporation, a nodal agency for the Navi Mumbai international airport project, does not want to waste any more time in project implementation in view of the environment clearance granted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. In an interview with Sanjay Jog, Joint Managing Director of Cidco, Tanaji Satre, explains its strategy. Edited excerpts:

What’s your reaction on the green nod for the project?
It’s a welcome move. Cidco has always been in the forefront of pioneering development in the city of Navi Mumbai. The city has often been looked to, to reduce the congestion that currently hampers the smooth functioning of Mumbai. It aimed to achieve its goals by providing the population with another urban alternative, which will allure the citizens wishing to relocate to a city with peace and comfort. Cidco aims to provide basic civic amenities to elevate standards of living for all social and economic strata, and offer a healthy environment and energising atmosphere. It will definitely help to accelerate Navi Mumbai’s rise as a meteorological superpower in the annals of world development.

Can you tell us the project details?
The airport project is located in an area of 1,160 hectares accommodating two parallel runways for independent operation with provision of full-length taxi ways on either sides of the runways. The airfield has been designed to accommodate the new large aircraft compatible to aerodrome code 4-F. Navi Mumbai International Airport will support the rapidly growing air travel needs of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. It is expected to absorb 10 million passengers annually in its first operational area at the end of 2014, increasing to 25 million by 2020 to 45 million by 2025 and 60 million by 2030. The project also includes development of non-aeronautical activities in an area of 270 hectare south of the airport.

How will Cidco meet the conditions laid down by the environment ministry?
The original proposal of Navi Mumbai International Airport envisaged spread over an area of 1,615 hectare consisting of 1,200 hectare for aeronautical activities and 415 hectare for non-aeronautical activities with training of the Gadhi river and diversion of the Ulwe river has undergone several modification in accordance with the brief of the experts appraisal committee. The final outcome of such brief is broadly to shift the non-aeronautical activities earlier planned in the Waghivali island to the south of the airport and to reduce the runway spacing to 1.55 km from 1.85 km as originally proposed to save the training of the Gadhi river. A revised master plan of the airport with 1.55 km of runway spacing with off-site infrastructure is prepared.

What measures are being taken by Cidco to protect environment?
Cidco has stressed enormously on the well being of the environment even as it has developed into an entity, which is now synonymous with growth and development. A 245-hectare mangrove park, along with an area of 310 hectare at Kamothe and 60 hectare at Moha Creek for regeneration of mangroves will be developed and maintained in the nearby area, thus providing the ecological balance of the area. A large water body in the north is also being retained.