Thane
With the Navi Mumbai international airport set to begin operations later this year, an all-party action committee on Friday urged the government to name the airport after the late leader D B Patil. Dashrath Patil, chairman of the Loknete D B Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport All-Party Action Committee, emphasized the demand during a press conference.
He called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet with the committee and decide on the name. D B Patil, a former MP, had led protests by farmers and landowners in the Panvel area when land was acquired for the airport project.
A resolution to name the airport after D B Patil has been passed by both houses of Maharashtra’s legislature but is still awaiting approval from the Centre. Dashrath Patil warned that if the demand is ignored, it could lead to widespread discontent. He also urged that jobs at the airport be given priority to people affected by the project from nearby districts.