News Brief
Navi Mumbai International Airport To Be Named After Farmers’ Leader D B Patil: Maharashtra CM Fadnavis
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde (L); PM Narendra Modi; and Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis (R) (Representative Image)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday (3 October) announced that Navi Mumbai International Airport will be named after farmers’ leader D B Patil, with approval secured from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian Express reported.
The CM revealed that he personally requested the Prime Minister’s nod and received a positive response.
“The central government had earlier given permission for the construction of the airport with the name ‘Navi Mumbai International Airport’. The name has been expanded and now it will be ‘Loknete D B Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport’. Prime Minister has assured that the airport will be named as per the proposal sent by the state government,” Fadnavis was quoted as saying by IE.
The announcement came during an all-party meeting with local residents, many of whom had been demanding the naming in honour of D B Patil.
Fadnavis also added that cases filed against people who protested over the airport’s naming will be withdrawn, signalling a conciliatory approach.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Raigad district on 8 October to inaugurate the airport.
Fadnavis further said that proposals to rename other airports in the state are also under consideration.
The existing Pune airport may be named after Jagadguru Sant Tukaram, and the airport in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar could be named after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
“All three proposals are under consideration and will be approved soon as per the demand of the state government and as per the new policy,” he added.
