Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis approves detailed study for Palghar offshore airport project

Mumbai: The country’s first offshore airport near Kore beach in Palghar district is feasible, according to the pre-feasibility report, said chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.On a daylong visit to various infrastructure sites in Palghar district on Sunday, Fadnavis said a presentation on the offshore airport was made to him and he has given orders for a detailed project report to be prepared.

The airport was proposed as part of the Vadhvan port development and is being overseen by the Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation.Fadnavis said the proposed airport site is approximately 4.75 km from the Uttan-Virar sea link, so if the latter were to be extended to the airport, it would provide direct connectivity to Mumbai, as well as the airports in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Further, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train station too is coming up close to this site. This would provide major connectivity to urban Palghar.The airport, he said, will be an important one and it will have two runways. “Considering the air traffic at the two (Mumbai) airports estimated by 2050 the airport will help fill the (carrying capacity) gap,” he said.