Mumbai North West MP Ravindra Waikar has called on the central government to renovate the vast slums surrounding Mumbai International Airport in a major effort to alleviate the airport’s increasing air traffic issues. He contends that this action might open the door to building a second runway to better handle the growing needs of air traffic.
Due to limited runway availability, Mumbai International Airport, one of India’s largest aviation hubs, has experienced increased delays. Operational inefficiencies result from the current infrastructure’s inability to handle the increasing traffic as passenger and flight loads rise. Waikar underlined that the key to easing these congestions is to use the land that has been cleared for an extra runway after slum restoration.
Waikar addressed yet another urgent issue—the funnel zone regulations—in a formal letter to Union Aviation Minister Keenjarappu Naidu. These regulations, which place height restrictions on buildings near the airport, have greatly slowed down the redevelopment of older buildings in the area. Waikar demanded that these rules be changed to allow for redevelopment while upholding aviation safety standards.
Waikar also emphasised the necessity of a team effort. He suggested that representatives from all pertinent parties, including public officials, local government agencies, and government departments, conduct a combined meeting. He proposed that such a gathering would allow for a thorough debate on runway development, slum rehabilitation, and the difficulties caused by funnel zone restrictions, finally resulting in workable solutions.
In his discussion of the human element of slum restoration, Waikar emphasised the significance of giving displaced people access to contemporary housing, water, and other necessities. As a crucial component of this development project, he urged governments to give compassionate relocation top priority. If put into practice, this plan might reinvigorate the urban area surrounding the airport in addition to improving Mumbai’s aviation infrastructure.
Source: Urban Acres
