COLABA HELIPAD
Colaba helipad for Mumbai on cards
Ministry clears helipad space, but residents may protest
BY A CORRESPONDENT
February 13, 2006
New Page 1
Mumbai is expected to get a new helipad at city centre Colaba.
Currently, there is a helipad at Juhu. The new helipad is expected to
benefit corporates and politicians who frequently use choppers to hop
from the city to suburbs and neighbouring states.
The helipad may be located near the Mumbai Port Trust's Botanical
Garden in Colaba. The helipad will be constructed by the Maharashtra
Arport Development Company. About 30 takeoffs and landings are
expected every day. A waiting lounge may be attached to the helipad.
Still, an earlier problem which bedevevilled the proposal to build a
helipad at Cuffe Parade may come up here too. At Cuffe Parade, which
is mainly a residential area, residents had successfully moved court
against the helipad proposal, saying it will cause noise pollution in
the area. Colaba residents too may raise the same issue.
Despite the Union Agriculture Ministry (whch owns the land) permitting
the Mumbai Colaba helipad, it may still have to clear many hurdles
before choppers can take off and land from here.
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