The upcoming international airport in Navi Mumbai will bear the name of former MP and activist DB Patil. This announcement was made by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday during a test flight at the airport. An Indian Air Force C-295 aircraft successfully landed at the Navi Mumbai International Airport on Friday, marking a significant milestone in the airport’s development.
The airport, being developed by the Adani Group, is set to commence commercial operations early next year. Chief Minister Shinde expressed confidence in the project’s progress, stating, “We are ready for the flight as well as for the fight. We do what we say, we don’t say what won’t happen, let’s see what happens in future. Our work is done quickly. We started Ladli Behan Yojana and now money goes to the accounts of sisters quickly. Navi Mumbai Airport will prove to be a boon for the people. Today C-295 successfully landed at Navi Mumbai Airport. The Airport will be named Loknete DB Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport.”
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized the safety and security of the airport, stating, “Today the landing was done on a safe runway. When the airport work started, the opposition leaders were asking a lot of questions. They said that such announcements are made a lot, there will be no airport, but today there was a safe landing and commercial flights will start as soon.”
DB Patil, a prominent figure in Maharashtra’s political landscape, was born in Raigad district in 1926. He pursued law, earning his LLB degree in 1951, and entered politics a few years later. Patil’s political career began with his election to the Maharashtra Assembly from Panvel in 1957, a position he held for five terms until 1980. He also served as an MP from Kolaba between 1977 and 1984. Patil was a prominent member of the Peasants and Workers Party and emerged as a strong advocate for farmers and landowners. He led numerous protests throughout the 1970s and 1980s against the City and Industrial Development Corporation’s land acquisition efforts in Panvel. His contributions to the region and his unwavering commitment to the welfare of farmers have solidified his legacy in Maharashtra’s political history.
