The stalled Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) project has finally started, with major the challenges being cleared.

The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) aims to complete the development works of the first phase of the airport by the end of 2024.

The project is being developed on 2,268 hectares of land, from which 1,160 hectares will have the actual airport. The expected cost of the project is Rs 16,700 crore.

Recently, Adani Group took over the project. The project had land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement challenges due to opposition from the locals for years.

The Adani Group concessionaire has demanded the acquisition of the entire project land before beginning the actual development.

Ten villages within the core airport area had to be shifted, affecting 3,000 families. Nearly 22.5% of the developing land and other incentives were offered to the project affected people (PAPs). The project also had environmental issues and permissions from the central and state governments, and changes in the concessionaire required new approvals.

Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of CIDCO, Sanjay Mukherjee, said, CIDCO and NMIAL acquired the project in 1997 and are now starting at full pace. CIDCO has completed land acquisition, rehabilitation and predevelopment civil works. It is one of the most vital steps toward the successful execution of the project.

He added that NMIAL had obtained all clearances and financial closure. CIDCO has handed over the site to NMIAL, which has commenced the work of the airport at full speed.

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