In a significant milestone for Pune, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new integrated terminal building at Lohegaon airport through a virtual ceremony on Sunday. The ceremony, attended by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Cooperation Minister Dilip Valse Patil, and Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, marked the beginning of an era of enhanced air travel convenience for the city.
During the event, Prime Minister Modi remarked, “The new terminal will make air travel easier and more comfortable for the common man of the country.”
Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister, revealed, “Along with the construction of the new airport, we are also considering the extension of the existing runway.” He emphasized the holistic approach towards improving air travel infrastructure in Pune.
“The terminal boasts a capacity of 1,000 cars, 34 check-in counters, and an annual passenger capacity of 90 lakhs. Instructions have been given to officials to start the facilities of the new terminal in April,” Pawar stated, highlighting the scale and efficiency of the new facility.
Devendra Fadnavis, another Deputy Chief Minister, emphasized the need for the new terminal, stating, “Pune is an important city, and Pune district is the manufacturing and IT hub of Maharashtra. The old terminal was inadequate to accommodate such a large number of passengers.”
Addressing the challenges of runway closures due to Pune being a center for the Air Force, Fadnavis disclosed, “Keeping in mind the need for the expansion of aviation services, a new airport will be constructed at Purandar in Pune district, and land acquisition will start soon.”
He further added, “A cargo center will be set up at Purandar, where industries can develop new supply chains and boost employment. Considering the growing expansion of Pune, this airport is necessary and will increase the GDP of Pune.”
The new developments are poised to elevate Pune’s position as a key aviation and economic hub, catering to the growing needs of the city and beyond.
