Aditya Thackeray Raises Concerns Over Delays in Naming Navi Mumbai and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airports
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Mumbai, Jan 13 (NationPress) Shiv Sena(UBT) leader and former Minister Aditya Thackeray has voiced his criticism towards the BJP-led administration at the Centre and the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra for the delays in officially naming the forthcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) in honor of veteran leader DB Patil and the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar airport after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
“Is this delay standard practice for the BJP-led Union government? Or is it simply a tactic to continue disrespecting Maharashtra?” he questioned.
In a post on X, Aditya Thackeray remarked, “Today marks the birth anniversary of DB Patil. Back in 2022, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Government's cabinet resolved to name the Navi Mumbai International Airport as DB Patil International Airport and relayed the recommendation to the Union government. The current status: pending approval from the Government of India. For over three years, despite numerous reminders sent to the Union Civil Aviation ministers, past and present, the matter remains unresolved. I urge Union Civil Aviation Minister @RamMNK to approve the proposal today, on this significant occasion.”
He further pointed out, “Likewise, the proposal to name the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar airport as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj airport has been pending with the Union government since 2020.”
In January 2024, Shiv Sena(UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray reiterated similar demands in a letter to the Centre.
“The Ayodhya airport has been renamed as Maharshi Valmiki International Airport and the Mopa airport in Goa as Manohar International Airport after the state’s late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. If both Ayodhya and Mopa airports can be named after individuals, then why shouldn't Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Navi Mumbai airports in Maharashtra receive the same treatment?” he questioned.
Furthermore, Aditya Thackeray's efforts to remind both the state and central authorities about the naming of NMIA are crucial, especially as the Mahayuti government has signaled that this greenfield airport is expected to commence operations in April this year, with a capacity to handle 20 crore passengers annually.
On December 29 last year, an Indigo A320 aircraft successfully landed on the airport's runway during its initial flight validation test. Subsequently, on October 11, 2024, the first landing of an Indian Air Force C-295, a large multi-role tactical airlifter, occurred at the airport.
