The Mumbai Airport Authorities on Wednesday, January 24, started the demolition of structures at the Air India Colony near the airport which led to a protest by a section of the employees of now Tata Group-owned airline. It has obtained all due permissions before starting the demolition.
This development was part of comprehensive redevelopment plan of the airport land.
In March 2022, approximately a month after Air India was handed over to Tata Sons, MIAL issued a notice to the airlines asking it to surrender land that is not core to its operations, including four staff colonies. These colonies were home to 1,600 families.
However, the move was opposed by the residents of the colony, who entered into a heated argument with the teams. They tried to prevent the earthmover vehicles from carrying out the demolition works.
MIAL remains committed to upholding the law and is dedicated to ensuring a smooth and efficient functioning of the airport. Considering Mumbai Airport is a land constrained aviation asset, this redevelopment initiative is a crucial step in the airport’s ongoing efforts to contribute to the expansion and improvement of existing passenger facilities, thus fostering the growth and progress of Mumbai.