Maharashtra Unveils Ambitious Plans in State Budget: Navi Mumbai Airport, MSME Policy, and More

Mumbai, 27th February 2024: During the presentation of the state budget for 2024-25, Maharashtra Finance Minister Ajit Pawar announced significant developments. He revealed that the first phase of the Navi Mumbai airport is scheduled to be operational by March 2025. Additionally, the state is preparing a new MSME policy, and under the Jal Jeevan Mission, tap water connections will be provided to approximately 1.47 crore households. The Housing for All Scheme aims to offer 34,400 homes for Divyang individuals.

Furthermore, the Maharashtra government has plans to construct Maharashtra Bhavan in Ayodhya and Srinagar, allocating ₹77 Crore for land acquisition in these locations. The pensions for freedom fighters will be doubled from ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 per month. The government also proposes to establish memorials for notable personalities such as Ahilyabai Holkar, Jyotiba Phule, Lahuji Salve, and others.

In a previous announcement, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that the initiation of commercial operations at the Navi Mumbai International Airport is planned for March 31, 2025. The project, led by the Adani Group and divided into five phases, will ultimately have the capacity to handle 9 crore passengers annually. The first two phases, with a capacity for 2 crore passengers per annum, will feature the country’s first airport with automated passenger movement over its 1600 hectares.

Scindia highlighted the environmentally friendly aspects of the project, stating that the first phase will create a 100 per cent green airport. Subsequent phases will include a second runway, four terminals, and an increased passenger capacity of 9 crore. Once all five phases are complete, the airport will boast four terminals and two runways.

Construction on the second airport project in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region began in 2018. The Navi Mumbai Airport will have road connectivity in three directions, connecting to NH 4B (348), the Sion Panvel Highway, and Atal Setu. Railway connectivity will be established through the Targhar Railway station, and metro lines 2D, 8, and the Navi Mumbai Pendhar Belapur Taloja line will connect the airport to the metro network. Plans include hovercraft connectivity from Colaba and cargo connectivity from Raigad in Phase 2.