Air Commodore Ajit Vaidya, Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Lohegaon Air Force Station today denied that the authorities had succumbed to pressure from the locals. ``We held a meeting with the local MLA Rambhau Moze and about 40 local representatives of Lohegaon and adjoining villages. While they appreciated our security concerns, they also explained that the closure would deprive the poor residents of the villages accessibility to a cheaper mode of transportation,'' he said.

He said they had decided to permit a limited number of six-seater autorickshaws on the Air Force Road to introduce a modicum of control on the traffic until connecting roads come up. The Air Force Station has reserved the right to conduct checks on vehicles for security reasons.

The authorities reiterated their intention to take up more seriously the closure of the road with the civil administration. In a recent meeting with Municipal Commissioner, recommendations were made to construct a direct road connecting the civil airport to Nagar Road.