ICAO to do feasbility studies for third Mumbai airport

New Delhi, Feb 6 (UNI) The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) will undertake feasibility studies for the construction of the third airport in Mumbai for non-scheduled flights.

This was conveyed to Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel by ICAO Secretary General Taieb Cherif here today.

Mr Patel had sought ICAO's assistance in undertaking feasibility studies and clearance for the third airport in Mumbai to which Mr Cherif readily agreed, an official statement said here today.

Mr Patel said there was a need for multiple airports in one city because of the increase in the number of flights.

Mumbai, he said, would need a third airport for non-scheduled operations to keep pace with the growing avaition traffic.

The Secretary General also offered technical assistance to India to implement the project of conversion of passports to E-passports.

Mr Patel said he would take up the matter with the concerned authorities at the earliest.

ICAO also expressed its keenness to provide technical assistance in next generation transportation system such as ATM planning, and in modernisation and upgrade of CNS and ATM facilities at Mumbai and Delhi airports.

During the day, ICAO signed two MoUs with the Airports Authority of India.

One agreement pertained to increasing technical cooperation and the other to providing fellowship training programme for aviation personnel of developing countries-- expected to establish India's leadership role in the aviation sector.

UNI