Pune: Runway Extension Work at Lohegaon Airport to Commence Soon, Says MoS Murlidhar Mohol
Pune: Runway Extension Work at Lohegaon Airport to Commence Soon, Says MoS Murlidhar Mohol
In a significant development, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol announced on Tuesday that work on the runway extension at Lohegaon airport will commence soon. The project, which requires the acquisition of 225-250 acres of land, has received a positive response from the ministry following an obstacle limitation survey (OLS) conducted earlier this year.
The proposed extension will increase the runway’s length by 500 meters on the eastern side and 300 meters on the western side, enabling the airport authority to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 160 crore, with the state government covering 60% of the expenses, followed by 20% from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), and 10% each from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA).
Mohol also announced that all airports in the country will soon have low-cost food outlets, dubbed “Udan Café”. The first such outlet was inaugurated at Kolkata airport on Tuesday, with plans to expand to other airports. This move aims to address passenger complaints about high-priced food outlets at airports.
In a related development, the Lohegaon airport has already opened its first low-cost food outlet at the new terminal building, offering affordable options such as half-litre water bottles for Rs 20, tea for Rs 30, and coffee and snacks for Rs 40. More such outlets are expected to open in the future.
The runway extension project is expected to enhance the airport’s capacity and facilitate smoother operations. With the state government initiating the land acquisition process, the project is likely to gain momentum in the coming months
