Villagers from Navi Mumbai and adjoining coastal districts have expressed deep disappointment following the inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). During the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made only passing references to the late farmer leader D. B. Patil, without officially announcing that the airport would be named after him.
Just before the ceremony, Dashrat Patil, President of the NMIA Kruti Samiti (All-Party Action Committee), had expressed optimism. “I am sure today is the day the airport will get its much-deserved name. Our hard work will not go waste,” he said.
### Hopes Dashed Despite PM and CM Mentions
However, during the inauguration, PM Modi merely stated, “Today I would also like to remember the great leader D. B. Patil, who toiled for farmers and remains an inspiration to all of us.” Similarly, Chief Minister Fadnavis acknowledged Patil’s contributions but stopped short of making any formal naming declaration.
“When Fadnavis called out D. B. Patil’s name, we were hopeful it was about the airport naming,” shared Dashrat Patil. “It was a huge disappointment. He had earlier assured us that the Prime Minister had agreed in principle, but nothing was mentioned today.”
The Kruti Samiti has announced plans to meet CM Fadnavis within the next ten days to seek documentary clarity on the airport naming process.
### Locals Threaten Political Action
According to Nilesh Patil, a member of the Action Committee representing project-affected persons (PAPs), the silence from the Prime Minister has triggered anger among locals. “We were all waiting to hear that the airport would be named after our leader. It’s really disappointing, and there will be repercussions,” he said.
Leaders of the committee and representatives of affected villages have hinted at intensifying their agitation and potentially taking decisive political steps ahead of the upcoming civic elections.
### Long-Standing Demand Across Coastal Maharashtra
The demand to name NMIA after D. B. Patil has been a decades-long movement, uniting villages from Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts. These communities are collectively represented by the D. B. Patil Navi Mumbai Airport Naming All-Party Action Committee.
A massive morcha (protest march) planned for October 6 was postponed after Chief Minister Fadnavis assured further talks.
“We would not let any flight take off if the naming is not done,” warned Dhanraj Mungaji from the committee. “It was a golden day for aviation, and today the announcement should have been made. We are extremely disappointed, but our fight will continue.”
https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/navi-mumbai-airport-inauguration-leaves-villagers-disappointed-over-no-d-b-patil-naming-announcement