Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray has asked the Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation (MADC) to speed up the plan of a satellite airport for Mumbai in the Palghar district. On August 1, 2014, Palghar district was carved out of Thane district, and is a developing part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The City Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) is already working on the Navi Mumbai International Airport project, and they anticipate its first flight by 2023. The MADC board had a meeting on the case on Tuesday. About the airport in Palghar, a senior MADC officer told the media that the authority would have a runway of 2,200 metres around, and preference would be given to the government, City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), or Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation-owned land. People who find it hard to traverse to Mumbai will be able to take flights from here, but it can also be compatible with aircraft like B737 or A320. It will also act as a satellite airport for Mumbai. This can also be used for transporting local farm produce. The Collector of Palghar has been asked to speed up site selection. The officer told the media that starting an ATR (Regional Transport Airplane) flight would not be a problem. An ATR plane service began from Chipi airport, and it’s almost running full. He said that the extending work of the Amravati airport from 1,372 to 1,850 metres will be finished by July, and Alliance Air, which has won the contract under the regional connectivity scheme, will begin flights by Diwali. Image Source Also read: AAI issues NOC to MMRDA for elevated metro near Juhu airport