MNS warns of protest over jobs at Navi Mumbai International Airport

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has threatened to “demolish the runway” at the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport if local Marathi-speaking candidates are not given priority in employment opportunities. The party claims that nearly one lakh jobs are expected to be created by the project, but local youth are being sidelined.

Addressing a press conference, MNS spokesperson Gajanan Kale said the recruitment process for the airport’s first terminal is already underway and that Marathi-speaking locals are being ignored. He said the party will not remain silent if this continues.

“If Marathi youth are not given priority in jobs, MNS will take out a grand march and ensure that no aircraft is allowed to take off from this airport, as per the orders given by Rajsaheb (MNS chief Raj Thackeray),” Kale warned. “It is not a difficult task for MNS workers to demolish the airport runway,” he added.

Kale cited information received under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, claiming that the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), which is overseeing the project, has not put in place any clear policy to reserve jobs for local residents. According to him, earlier promises of 80% job allocation to Marathi-speaking locals have been ignored.

The MNS also alleged that a company based in Ayodhya had cheated several Marathi youths by collecting money in exchange for false job promises at the airport. Kale claimed that one victim’s father, a tea-seller, had paid INR 88,000 to secure employment for his son, but the job never materialised.

The MNS further accused CIDCO of neglecting skill development programs that were designed to prepare local Agri-Koli community members, the original residents of the land acquired for the airport, for airport-related employment. These programs, Kale said, have now been discontinued.

Kale warned that if their demands are not met, the MNS will lead a mass protest march involving all opposition parties. The protest would be led by MNS leader Amit Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, he added.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport, being developed by the Adani Group, is expected to be operational in phases, with its first terminal nearing completion. Once fully functional, the airport is expected to generate around 100,000 direct and indirect jobs, contributing significantly to the region’s economy.