EXCLUSIVE: Navi Mumbai airport gears to conduct inaugural runway test

File Photo

The much-awaited inaugural landing of the Indian Air Force aircraft at the Navi Mumbai International Airport will be conducted on Friday, October 11. The southern runway, where the IAF C-295 will be landing at 11 am, has been prepared ahead of the big moment. The landing will take place in the presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.

The IAF C-295 will be landing on Runway 26 which is a southbound runway. mid-day has the exclusive footage of the newly constructed runway where the inaugural flight will land today.

The C-295 Defence Transport aircraft from Gandhinagar and Sukoi MK30 fighter aircraft from Pune were specially flown in for the event, stated media reports.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday had announced that a Sukhoi fighter jet will take off from the Navi Mumbai International Airport this week. Shinde's statement was made during an event in Nagpur wherein Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually laid the foundation stone for various development projects in the poll-bound state.

"I want to give good news that in the next two to three days Sukhoi fighter jets will take off from the Navi Mumbai International Airport," CM Eknath Shinde said during his address.

Navi Mumbai Airport to be operational by March '25

The greenfield Navi Mumbai International Airport near Mumbai is currently under construction. It is expected to be operational by March next year, officials had said earlier.

Navi Mumbai Airport to be named after Loknete DB Patil

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said that the Navi Mumbai Airport will be named after Loknete DB Patil.

"Today, I chaired a meeting alongside Union Minister for Civil Aviation Shri Rammohan Naidu ji regarding the government of Maharashtra's resolution to name it Loknete DB Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport," said Murlidhar Mohol on October 7.

"Various technicalities in this regard were positively discussed. The government of Maharashtra, led by the Mahayuti, has passed a resolution regarding this in both the houses of the state assembly and has sent it for the approval of the Union Cabinet. Very soon, the cabinet will take a positive decision and respect the sentiments of the civic movement being run in the honour of Late DB Patil ji," he added.

With PTI inputs