Navi Mumbai International Airport - Objections To The Location

Objections To The Location

Objections were raised by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests on the current proposed location of the Navi Mumbai International airport near Kopra Panvel area, apparently because the construction of the airport would involve reclamation of low-lying areas in an ecologically fragile zone as well as destruction of several hectares of Mangroves. There are serious environmental issues. Its construction would damage mangrove cultivation in the 2,000 hectares, besides the diversion of Gadhi and Ulwe rivers, which according to the Union Environment and Forests Ministry is a very serious issue considering the destruction Mumbai faced during the 26 July 2005 floods. As a result of these new developments other locations were considered.

The original option of locating near Rewas Mandwa

The proposed airport site is centred around the region of Rewas and Mandwa near Alibaug, where the original proposal of second international airport existed on all regional development plans, and the location was commented to be the most fit and correct barring the excessive financial cost involved in building a sea-link/creek bridge over the Karanja Creek connecting Uran – JNPT area to the proposed airport at Rewas Mandwa. It is only at a distance of 20 nautical miles (37 km) by sea makes it a viable location.

The other option of locating near Kalyan – Nevali

The second option includes the one off village Newali near Kalyan-Ambernath 55 km away from the current airport in Mumbai. There exists an old and abandoned air-strip of World War II era and the Union Defence Ministry owns the 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) of land on which it is located. The proposal was centred around those 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) of land.

Both options were later ruled out and the site was finalised at Panvel.