In a significant push to address Mumbai International Airport’s growing air traffic challenges, Mumbai North West MP Ravindra Waikar has urged the central government to rehabilitate the extensive slums surrounding the airport. This move, he argues, could pave the way for constructing an additional runway to manage the escalating air traffic demands more efficiently.
Mumbai International Airport, one of India’s busiest aviation hubs, has faced increasing delays due to constrained runway availability. As passenger and flight volumes surge, the current infrastructure struggles to accommodate the growing traffic, leading to operational inefficiencies. Waikar emphasised that utilising the vacated land post-slum rehabilitation for an additional runway is critical to alleviating these bottlenecks. In a formal letter to Union Aviation Minister Keenjarappu Naidu, Waikar highlighted another pressing concern: the funnel zone regulations. These rules, which impose height restrictions on buildings around the airport, have significantly delayed the redevelopment of aging structures in the vicinity. Waikar called for amendments to these regulations to enable redevelopment while maintaining aviation safety standards.
Further, Waikar stressed the need for a collaborative approach. He proposed a joint meeting involving representatives from all relevant stakeholders, including government departments, local authorities, and public representatives. Such a meeting, he suggested, would enable a detailed discussion on slum rehabilitation, runway expansion, and the challenges posed by funnel zone restrictions, ultimately leading to actionable solutions. Addressing the human aspect of slum rehabilitation, Waikar underscored the importance of providing displaced residents with modern housing, water supply, and other essential amenities. He urged policymakers to prioritise humane resettlement as an integral part of this developmental initiative. If implemented, this proposal could not only boost Mumbai’s aviation infrastructure but also revitalise urban development around the airport.
