New airport rehab package by October

The state is planning a final rehabilitation package for the nearly 3,000 project affected persons of the Navi Mumbai airport project.

The state is planning a final rehabilitation package for the nearly 3,000 project affected persons of the Navi Mumbai airport project.

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“We want to submit the package before the chief minister by October 20,” said UDD

principal secretary TC Benjamin. The UDD department held a review of the project along with City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) and other departments in Mantralaya on Thursday.

“Everything is under control and we are in the final stage of negotiations with the land owners. We are hopeful that we will decide on the final modalities of the compensation package in the next two or three sittings,” Benjamin said.

The airport, which was planned to ease the load on Mumbai’s existing airport, is spread over 2,020 acres.

Out of this, the government and Cidco possess only 1,596 hectares. Cidco needs to acquire an additional 424 hectares by shifting 3,000 families from 10 hamlets to construct the airport by 2014.

Many of these families welcome the airport saying development of the area is necessary. Most all of them, however, are united in their opinion that Cidco has not been transparent with them about their rehabilitation.

Benjamin also claimed that Cidco may even float tenders for the project by the end of October.

In May, the steering committee of the Civil Aviation Ministry gave its approval to the airport’s master plan.