There is a buzz that the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) may soon be connected to Mumbai through a tunnel. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the Urban Development Department, has asked the authorities to examine its feasibility. Here’s what we know so far.
A Tunnel To Connect Mumbai To Navi Mumbai International Airport
On Monday, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) was asked to examine the feasibility of connecting the Navi Mumbai International Airport to Mumbai through a tunnel. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde held a meeting with senior officers of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which was also attended by MMRDA chief Sanjay Mukherjee.
As per a report by Hindustan Times, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Phase 1 of the new airport on Wednesday, October 8. Heavy rains and poor road conditions slightly delayed the inauguration. It was first scheduled for September 30.
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Tunnel To Ease Future Traffic
According to the same report, the airport will be developed in four phases, and a large number of vehicles will travel between Mumbai and the airport. The existing routes are expected to be inadequate in the future as air traffic at the new Navi Mumbai Airport is expected to grow significantly. NMIA will be the second international airport serving the Mumbai Metropolitan Region after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
Authorities are also planning seamless connectivity of the airport with national highways, suburban railways, metro networks, and waterways. According to a press note issued by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s office, there’s a possibility that the tunnel will be constructed from the existing sea link or Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to Navi Mumbai Airport. Currently, the feasibility plan is being studied. If the proposal moves ahead, experts will be roped in for planning and designing the tunnel.
You would also like to know that NMIA is going to be one of the most advanced in India. It will feature automated check-in kiosks, spacious lounges and fast baggage claim systems. The airport will also house several luxury brand stores for travellers to indulge in retail therapy before take-off. The airport has already made us excited!
If the tunnel plan materialises, connectivity to the new international airport could get much better. However, don’t get your hopes up just yet, as the plan is still in its early stages!
Cover Image Courtesy: Supplied
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