Pune: In a crucial meeting led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Pune airport officials, the Pune collector, and the Pune divisional commissioner have greenlit a 1 km runway extension project. The expansion aims to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft for enhanced landing and take-off capabilities, requiring the acquisition of 135 acres of land. Vice-President of the Pune Airport Advisory Committee, Tingre, announced that the state, PMC, PCMC, and PMRDA would collectively fund the acquisition process.
The current runway, standing at 2,539 meters (8,333 ft), will be extended to facilitate smoother operations. Deputy CM Pawar addressed concerns about accessibility, emphasizing the need for continuous police presence on the approach roads.
In a parallel development, the state government has formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the new terminal building on Feb 19 during his visit to Maharashtra. This invitation comes after Deputy CM Pawar’s announcement, with the opposition criticizing both state and central authorities for alleged delays. Minister of State for Civil Aviation VK Singh clarified that the building wasn’t ready during a recent Rajya Sabha session prompted by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi.
Deputy CM Pawar expressed confidence in the Prime Minister’s presence, stating that the new terminal would significantly boost passenger traffic. He emphasized providing international-level facilities to passengers and discussed the possibility of an online inauguration if a physical presence wasn’t feasible.
MLA Sunil Tingre, during the inspection, disclosed plans to close the existing building immediately upon the new terminal’s operation. The closure is slated to last a year, during which the building will undergo redevelopment before reopening.
