Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday put his seal of approval on the multi-modal international passenger and cargo hub in Nagpur and said Boeing would set up a maintenance and repair facility in Nagpur itself.
"The Civil Aviation Ministry has assured me that they will work in co-operation with and support all efforts of the government of Maharashtra to develop the airport, including the transfer of any assets to the State government," Singh told reporters here on the second day of his tour of the Vidarbha region.
Putting at rest speculation about aircraft major Boeing shifting its proposed Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in the city, Singh said Boeing is setting up a maintenance facility in Nagpur.
Singh said Nagpur has an airport which is centrally located and has the potential to become a transport hub. It has already been made an international airport.
The cargo hub project was awaiting transfer of the city's international airport to Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC).
Union Minister for Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Vilas Muttemwar had met the Prime Minister early this week and urged him to look into the transfer of the airport.
{{/usCountry}}Union Minister for Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Vilas Muttemwar had met the Prime Minister early this week and urged him to look into the transfer of the airport.
{{/usCountry}}Singh said irrigation is the pressing need of the region adding the Indira Sagar Dam Gosh Khurd project would be provided all necessary assistance from the Centre for speedy completion.
The foundation stone of the project was laid by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Singh asked the Maharashtra government to utilize opportunities to develop Nagpur through the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM).
"If Nagpur develops rapidly, I am confident that this will improve the economic prospects of Vidarbha as a whole," he observed.
Singh on Saturday skirted a direct reply on creation of smaller states including Vidarbha.
"I am on a limited mission, to know the plight of farmers of the Vidarbha region and this not the proper time to discuss Vidarbha statehood," he said.
Later talking to reporters, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said "cargo will certainly come to the city".