MUMBAI'S first iconic tower may have got the licence to rise high at Wadala, but the 101-floor tower is set to increase challenges for pilots and air traffic controllers alike.
MUMBAI'S first iconic tower may have got the licence to rise high at Wadala, but the 101-floor tower is set to increase challenges for pilots and air traffic controllers alike.u00a0u00a0
According to aviation experts, the tower will discomfort passengers by adding to delays in aircraft takeoffs and landings at Mumbai airport. "The direct fallout will be that the entire flying stretch over Wadala-Sewri-Parel will not be available for holding (aviation term for hovering around due to congestion at point of destination), since the building will be over 100 floors in height," air marshal (retd) S Ramdas said.
u00a0u00a0
|
|
A graphic of the proposed tower |
Experts warned that in case an aircraft flew low in the said airspace, then the ground proximity warning system hinting at obstacles on or near the flight path would go off, prompting the pilot to signal an emergency as a matter of practice. Sources at Mumbai Air Traffic Control (ATC) said several international pilots approaching to land in major Indian cities had already reported having sighted tall buildings close to their flight paths.
Aviation expert Vipul Saxena said, "Mumbai airport is already congested with over 650 arrivals and departures each day. By imposing further restrictions, it will only increase challenges and the workload of the air traffic controllers." According to aviation experts, a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) informing of the changes in flying over Wadala will have to be issued as construction of the building begins.
Experts observed that the changes in flying rules would defeat the purpose of simultaneously using both the main and secondary runways to clear arriving and departing flights quickly. Runway 14, the secondary runway is presently (until a newer NOTAM is issued) being used for landing only.
"Wadala is located to the right of Runway 14 (in takeoff position) so any aircraft proceeding south-east or hovering around during congestion time will have to maintain a greater height of 3,000 feet," an airport official said. He added that during take off from Runway 14, pilots would have to proceed to attain a height of at least 3000 feet before either flying straight or turning left thus turning the left pocket comprising of Chembur-Mankhurd-Ghatkopar into a pressure point.
A civil aviation ministry official said, "There is nothing in writing yet. Any decision will be taken as and when needed." The Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel was unavailable for comment. The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) commissioner, Ratnakar Gaikwad is on record saying that the building would generate Rs 2,000 crore in revenue through rent, which will go towards other development projects in the region.
Costing Rs 4,000 crore, the building will have several hotels in it. About 30 floors of the building will have seven-star hotels and luxury apartments. For the first 60 floors, there will be high-speed elevators, while the rest of the building will have normal elevators. After selection of bids, construction is expected to begin in October.u00a0
