It’s good news for Konkan, Pune too

As important as the second international airport is vital for Mumbai, it has huge implications for neighbouring Konkan and the Pune-Nashik belt.

As important as the second international airport is vital for Mumbai, it has huge implications for neighbouring Konkan and the Pune-Nashik belt.

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“This is a vital piece of infrastructure since there are serious constraints on the existing airport. Without the second airport, Mumbai could lose relevance not just as an international financial centre but also as the national financial capital,” said Sanjay Ubale, managing director of Tata Realty and Infrastructure.

Experts said the second airport would lead to rapid growth across the metropolitan region that now stretches up to coastal Raigad and boost development in the Konkan as well as the Pune-Nashik belt. In the past few years, the Konkan is being looked upon as a power, mining and ports centre. Pune has emerged as an automobile and information technology hub, while Nashik is being developed as a manufacturing hub.

These regions are among India’s fastest growing, attracting billions of dollars of investment across proposed special economic zones (SEZs) and infrastructure projects. The state has the highest number of SEZs — 105 approved — in India. More than half these services, information technology, automobile and manufacturing enclaves are in this belt.

The airport site is close to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the area along it is being developed as a service sector hub.

“If we don’t get the airport soon, there could be implications on growth in these regions. The project is important to sustain existing and future investments,” said AM Khan, principal secretary, industries.