The second airport for Mumbai at Navi Mumbai is set to become a reality following Ministers of Civil Aviation and Environment and Forest agreeing to concede a little ground after sorting out differences over the proposed airport.  The union minister of agriculture Sharad Pawar also voiced his support for the Navi Mumbai site for the proposed international airport.

While the environment ministry objected to the diversion of two rivers and a hill blasted destroying mangroves over 400 while the aviation ministry has conceded to built the airport without impacting the rivers. Indications are that the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), whose clearance is required for the project, is likely to agree to the newly worked strategy.

The project is already delayed by three years due to land acquisition issues and environment clearances. The proposed airport was planned to de-congest the Mumbai airport, which is slated to reach saturation by 2012. Mr Patel said recently that the Government had to refuse permission to airlines wanting to operate to Mumbai due to lack of space.