As operations of the Navi Mumbai international airport are expected to start later this year, an all-party action committee on Friday pressed for its demand to name the new facility after late leader DB Patil, and warned of an “explosion of discontent” if it is not fulfilled. Dashrath Patil, chairman of the Loknete DB Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport All-Party Action Committee, reiterated the demand during a press conference held here.

“The Navi Mumbai international airport should be named after Loknete DB Patil immediately,” he said. He requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a meeting with the action committee over the issue. DB Patil, who was a Member of Parliament (MP), had led several protests by farmers and landowners surrounding Panvel tehsil in Raigad district when the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) had acquired land in the area decades ago.

“The issue of naming the Navi Mumbai airport after DB Patil is pending with the Centre. The state government should immediately organise a meeting of the office-bearers action committee along with PM Modi and announce the name. Otherwise, there will be an explosion of discontent,” he warned. “A resolution (about naming the airport after DB Patil) has been in both houses of the Maharashtra legislature and sent to the Centre. But it is still pending with the Centre. With the airport’s construction largely complete and flight operations expected to commence from November, it is imperative to immediately name it after DB Patil,” he said.