Over 50 e-buses deployed as Navi Mumbai Airport launch draws near

With the Navi Mumbai International Airport NMIA edging closer to its longawaited launch the two municipal bodies mdash Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation NMMC and Panvel Municipal Corporation PMC mdash have swung into action to ensure the cityrsquos newest gateway to the skies doesnrsquot stumble on the ground From deploying over 50 electric buses to cracking down on open meat markets that could attract birds both civic bodies are pushing in parallel to get NMIA flightreadyNMMC Commissioner Kailas Shinde admitted that while the airport is technically located outside NMMC limits Navi Mumbai will function as its ldquoservice backbonerdquo ldquoFactually the airport is just across our jurisdiction but this is the most developed area and it will cater to all the services needed for NMIArdquo Shinde told midday50 bus servicesShinde said NMMC will provide more than 50 Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport NMMT electric buses dedicated to ferrying passengers and staff between the airport and the city ldquoWe are in agreement talks with NMIA authorities These buses will handle traffic until the Metro becomes operational Apart from this we are supplying treated water for nonpotable use and working on road markings and directional signagerdquo he saidWho will use which routeThe NMMC commissioner outlined how different parts of Mumbai will access the airport once operations begin South Mumbai via Mumbai Trans Harbour Link MTHL Central Mumbai amp Eastern suburbs Dadar Chembur Mankhurd via Vashi creek and NMMC roadsNorth Mumbai Thane MiraBhayandar through Thane using the ThaneBelapur Road TBR which is being upgraded into a signalfree corridor ldquoUntil the multimodal corridor is completed in another 4ndash5 years ThaneBelapur Road will remain the main spine for airport connectivity We are upgrading it to handle that loadrdquo Shinde saidPalm Beach Road one of Navi Mumbairsquos most iconic stretches is also being polished for smoother airport rides ldquoWe are improving major arterial roads within our limits because eventually all of them feed into the airportrdquo he addedCity upgradeNMMC is also aligning its longterm development plan with the airport Road widening new water networks redevelopment with higher FSI and hospitalitylinked infrastructure are being prioritisedldquoReal estate hotels and service industries will automatically boom with NMIA We are preparing our infrastructure to meet that surgerdquo Shinde said PMC on its part is resurfacing roads installing modern streetlights and adding signage to guide passengers towards the airportBird hazardsOn the Panvel side officials are focused on a very different but crucial risk mdash bird strikes Additional Commissioner Ganesh Shete said ldquoAs per aerodrome policy open sale of mutton and fish attracts birds which can endanger flights We have already taken action against illegal slaughterhouses and open sales We are keeping a strict vigilrdquoTogether Navi Mumbai and Panvel are working in sync mdash one driving connectivity and buses the other enforcing safety and signage By the time NMIA opens its gates both hope to have built not just roads and buses but a support system ready to carry Indiarsquos newest airport skyhighMamta Pandey MSEDCL PRO said ldquoMaharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited MSEDCL is fully committed to meeting the power requirements of the Navi Mumbai International Airport project For the construction phase the initial sanctioned demand was 7 MVA Mega Volt Ampere which was recently enhanced by an additional 3 MVA at the developerrsquos request We have ensured that the supply has been made available smoothly and without delaysrdquoldquoTechnically MSEDCL has the capacity to supply up to 20 MVA once the airport becomes operational and if there is any further demand in the future we are fully prepared to augment the supply accordingly Our priority is to provide uninterrupted highquality electricity to such a critical infrastructure project which will not only serve millions of passengers but also play a key role in the overall economic growth of Navi Mumbai and Maharashtrardquo added Pandey