Solapur Airport Set To Launch Operations Amid Infrastructure Upgrades
Solapur Airport Set To Launch Operations Amid Infrastructure Upgrades
August 30, 2024
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) held an extensive meeting on Wednesday to discuss unresolved issues concerning Solapur Airport in Maharashtra, as stated by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mohol noted that the Union government has invested approximately ₹ 50 crore in upgrading the airport under the UDAN-RCS (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik – Regional Connectivity Scheme). He mentioned that the necessary workforce for the airport is currently undergoing training and has directed officials to accelerate the licensing process with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Mohol also indicated that he has spoken with airlines and encouraged them to consider operating flights on the Solapur-Tirupati, Solapur-Delhi, and Solapur-Hyderabad routes. The meeting included M. Suresh, Chairman of the Airport Authority of India (AAI), Sharad Kumar, Member of Operations & Planning at AAI, along with representatives from Akasa, Indigo, and other airlines.
Meanwhile, Solapur District Collector Kumar Ashirwad informed TOI that the DGCA has granted in-principle approval for the airport’s operating license, and a team will be visiting soon for a final inspection.
“A new application will be submitted to the DGCA to obtain the license, and we will file it online. A DGCA team is expected to arrive for a final inspection within the next two weeks,” the collector mentioned.
Ashirwad pointed out that one major obstacle in getting Solapur Airport operational was a 92-meter-tall chimney from a sugar factory, which was demolished after facing several legal challenges in 2023. However, a smaller chimney still remains. He noted that it will be removed, but until then, aircraft cannot operate at full passenger capacity.
“The airport has a 2,100-meter runway, which is suitable for 72-seater aircraft to land and take off without issues. However, due to the weight restrictions, planes can only operate with a maximum of 60 passengers,” the collector added.
