Proposed Panvel-Karjat track will help Naina residents too.

The Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (Naina) project got an extra boost with the state government's in-principle nod for double-laning the track between Panvel and Karjat. The elevated corridor between Kalwa and Airoli is also on the cards.

The project, based on the people's participation model of sharing land to develop a mega city of 600 sq km, is close to the new airport in Panvel taluka. Around five of the 23 villages which will be rehabilitated as part of the airport project, are part of the interim development plan in Raigad district. The villagers will also benefit, along with other commuters, from the Rs. 1,473-crore double-laning railway project, which will connect the fast growing Panvel area with Thane, Kalyan, Karjat and the satellite city.

The urban development department (UDD) in June intimated the railway board that the state government would share the 50% of the cost that will be further split equally between MMRDA and City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco). Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC), a public sector undertaking of the Union ministry of railways, will pay the remaining expenses.

TOI