Mohol Pushes for Faster Pune Airport Expansion, Meets Defence Minister
Mohol Pushes for Faster Pune Airport Expansion, Meets Defence Minister
Pune’s international airport is set for a major expansion, and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation Muralidhar Mohol has sought support from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to speed up the process.
To handle the growing number of passengers and flights, the Maharashtra government plans to acquire around 300 acres of land in Lohegaon for the airport’s expansion. During his meeting with Rajnath Singh, Mohol requested the transfer of certain Defence land required for the project.
According to Mohol, the Indian Air Force currently owns 35 acres of land next to the Airports Authority of India terminal. The state government has proposed giving the Air Force 65 acres of nearby land in exchange for this parcel, which could help accelerate the airport expansion work.
The meeting also covered the proposed merger of the Pune and Khadki Cantonment Boards with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Mohol said the Maharashtra government had already submitted a proposal to the Defence Ministry in April seeking approval for the merger.
Another key issue discussed was the situation of residents in Indiranagar-Burma Shell Colony in Lohegaon. The Air Force had issued notices to vacate the area, where more than 1,100 families and nearly 6,000 people have been living for decades. The locality is served by civic facilities such as schools, hospitals and other services provided by the PMC.
Mohol said several defence-related matters affecting Pune’s development and residents had been pending for a long time. He added that the Defence Minister responded positively and directed officials to take necessary action. Mohol expressed confidence that progress would soon be made on the airport expansion, cantonment merger and the concerns of Indiranagar residents.
