Airport closure inescapable, says IAF
After the news of Pune Airport remaining inoperative from Oct 16-29, the flyers expressed their disappointment over the sudden decision which came as a jolt to many. Many had booked the tickets prior to the journey since the Diwali vacations are approaching and sudden cancellation left them in panic.
The flyers requested that the Pune Airport Authority should seek some relaxation so that the flyers are not at loss. The Indian Air Force issued an explanation in resurfacing and runway closure issue.
It said, to address the issue of rapidly deterriorating condition of the runway and associated operating surfaces at Air Force station Pune runway resurfacing was an urgent requirement. The aim is to prevent any damage to engines of operating aircraft.
‘Partial closure of the runway was undertaken at Pune for a period of 12 hours daily during night, to cause least possible disturbance to civil aviation for a period of one year from October 26, 2020 to October 25, 2021, during which time the work progressed. A 14 days complete closure was also planned from 26 April 2021 till 9 May 2021 to undertake the resurfacing of central bitumen portion of the runway. However, due to the emergent requirement for transportation of Covid19 vaccine, Ministry of Defence had directed to defer the complete closure of runway,’ the statement said.
The work of resurfacing, other than the central flexible portion of runway is nearing completion. To ensure timely availability of runway post resurfacing, complete closure 14 days is inescapable and was planned in the 3rd and 4th week of OCtober.
‘The tentative period of closure was intimated to all the airline operators, local airport, director and airports authority of India CHQ, well in advance. However, the exact dates of closure from October 16 – 29, 2021 could be promulgated only after the requisite approvals were obtained from the ministry of health and family welfare and the Ministry of Defence. As per the current plan, flight operations would resume from October 30, 2021 , before the Diwali festival. During the period of complete closure of the runway, IAF will ensure airlift of vaccines from Pune to Mumbai by deploying suitable IAF assets for the purpose to ensure uninterrupted supply chain,’ the IAF stated.
