AAI's Mumbai radar to be relocated, will free land for affordable housing: Civil Aviation Minister

The Airports Authority of Indias AAI highfrequency radar at Dahisar in Mumbai will be relocated to Gorai unlocking hundreds of acres of land for affordable housing projects in the area Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has said reported news agency PTIThis decision was taken following a meeting between various stakeholders including the Civil Aviation Ministry the Maharashtra government and othersAddressing the meeting virtually Naidu on Sunday said the Civil Aviation Ministry will seek cabinet approval for the relocation so that the construction work on such projects can start at the earliest reported PTIRadar installations at Dahisar and Juhu restrict building heightsOn Saturday Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the legislative assembly that the state government had decided to shift highfrequency radar centres from Dahisar and Juhu to technically suitable alternative sitesFadnavis said the Civil Aviation Ministry the Union government and the AAI had agreed to the shifting of the radar at Dahisar and that the state government has conveyed its willingness to bear the cost of relocation and to provide alternative land he addedThe issue was impacting the urban development projects in North Mumbai Due to this some lakh people were being forced to live in old dilapidated buildings Now with this decision the dream of the people of Dahisar to have a house of their own is going to be fulfilled Naidu said reported PTIHe said the matter had been discussed for a long time adding that Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal who represents the North Mumbai constituency took up the matter seriously with the Civil Aviation Ministry for its resolutionAAI radar relocation to free 1000 acres for housingStating that the radar relocation work would be completed with the cooperation of all stakeholders including the Union and state governments and the Civil Aviation Ministry Naidu said We are also laying the foundation for affordable housing in Dahisar as some 1000 acres of land spread over 6 km will be released for housing projects for the people of Dahisar reported PTIWith this affordable housing project Dahisar is going to be the hub for ease of living he statedThis decision balances housing needs with aviation safety It will bring relief to thousands of families and accelerate economic development in the region he said reported PTIGoyal who also addressed the meeting virtually said that over the next five years an estimated 50000 houses will be constructed or redeveloped paving the way for pakka homes with basic amenities and generating largescale employmentThis was not an easy issue After many years of consistent followup this historic decision has become possible through close coordination between the central and state governments In the coming months all stalled projects will begin at a rapid pace and North Mumbai will move forward towards becoming Uttam Mumbai he said reported PTIGoyal further stated that the decision was the result of joint efforts especially acknowledging CM Fadnavis for readily allotting alternative landWith this he said the tag of Dahisar being the last suburb will be erased and it will emerge as a fastdeveloping growth hub offering a better quality of life affordable housing and a safe green and dignified living environmentFadnavis had stated that the land at Gorai will be transferred free of cost to the Centre and 40 per cent of the AAI land at Dahisar will be used for public purposesThe government has also suggested an alternative site at Juhu to the AAI for technical evaluation After the technical study is completed and the site is finalised the approval process for shifting the Juhu radar will beginAfter relocating the radar centres redevelopment of buildings in Dahisar and Juhu DN Nagar areas will become feasible the chief minister saidWith inputs from PTI