MP Varsha Gaikwad Urges Centre to Name Navi Mumbai Airport After D B Patil
Mumbai North Central Member of Parliament Varsha Gaikwad has written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu regarding the delay in officially naming the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. In a letter sent on August 6, the parliamentarian urged the central government to expedite final approval and formally notify the facility's name as 'Loknete D. B. Patil International Airport' without further delay.
Gaikwad pointed out growing public dissatisfaction over the pending notification, particularly as the airport approaches operationalisation. She emphasized that naming the airport after the late D. B. Patil reflects the deep-rooted identity and historical aspirations of local Agri-Koli communities and the bhumiputras, or sons of the soil, across Thane, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Raigad, Palghar, and Nashik districts.
In her communication to the Union Minister, the MP highlighted D. B. Patil’s career as a prominent leader who served as a five-time Member of the Legislative Assembly, a two-time leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, and a two-time Member of Parliament.
Gaikwad specifically cited Patil’s pivotal leadership during the historic 1984 movement in Uran. That movement successfully secured the landmark 12.5 per cent developed plot scheme, an arrangement that safeguards the livelihoods of thousands of project-affected families across Thane and neighboring districts.
The MP reminded Minister Kinjarapu that both Houses of the Maharashtra state legislature unanimously passed a resolution on June 29, 2022, proposing to name the airport after Late D. B. Patil. The resolution was subsequently submitted to the central government for final approval.
Expressing concern that central approval remains pending despite unanimous state backing and the airport approaching completion, Gaikwad called on the Ministry of Civil Aviation to clear the proposal immediately and issue the official notification.
