AAI survey over,ball now in govt court to acquire land

The state government has already notified the area for the airport two years ago. Now,the Chamber hopes the IAF headquarters will give its No-Objection Certificate or an NOC for the new site and pave way for the proposed airport.

The state government has so far acquired a plot of 800 hectares. The proposed airport would require around 2,000 to 3,500 hectares of land.

Pune needs an independent international airport as the present airport is shared by both the Indian Air Force and the civil aviation. There are some very stringent restrictions on its expansion,despite the growing air traffic from the city. “From about one lakh annual travellers in 2005 to 35 lakh people a year currently,it has so far grown at 30 per cent every year,barring 2012-13 when it grew at 15 per cent,which is still better than the negative growth nationally,” said S K Jain,president,MCCIA.

Meanwhile,the much-awaited Modernisation of Airfield Infrastructure (MAFI) project for the existing city airport is likely to take off in about two months,according to MCCIA officials. MAFI,which is likely to bring to the Lohegaon airport some of the most modern sophisticated equipment,including Instrument Landing System (ILS),was expected to take off last year. However,a delay has occurred. But the reasons have not been identified so far. The project was bagged by Tata Power SED,and executed as a pilot project at Bhatinda airport.

Commenting on the project,Air Marshal (retd) Bhushan Gokhale,chairman,Civil Aviation Committee,MCCIA,said,“MCCIA has requested AOC (Air Officer Commanding) to consider the needs of civil movements,while implementing MAFI in the next few months. It will be possible to increase the number of flights after completion of the MAFI Project. ILS and runway lighting will reduce disruptions in scheduled operations caused due to bad weather. Further,no diversion of flights will be required when the MAFI project is completed. Automatic Flight Management System would enable the airlines to obtain faster clearance at Pune airport.”

The city needs 120 flights,but can only operate 90 civil flights as the IAF restricts commercial flights during their sorties. Industry members hope there would not be any disruption in service during the upgrade and all 90 existing flights would be able to operate smoothly.

The schedule will be disturbed only for two months or so since the MAFI Project will be implemented in phases,the first phase of which will involve most of the work on the periphery of the runway. The project would be implemented during 10 pm to 8 am every day. The Frankfurt flight timing will have to be altered only for two months of project phase in which on runway lighting and related works will be carried out on the runway.

There is also a proposal to extend the runway at Airforce Station Lohegoan. The matter is currently sub-judice.