TBM Staff - Mumbai
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, has announced positive developments for Pune Airport’s expansion. The Obstacles Limitation Surface (OLS) survey, conducted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the proposed runway extension at Lohegaon, has been favorable. This paves the way for international flights to soon begin operating from Pune after resolving some technical issues.
In a high-level meeting in Delhi, Pune MP Mohol discussed various aspects of the runway extension, including land acquisition, transfer of land from the Ministry of Defence, and the extension of the apron and runway length. These efforts are critical to accommodating larger aircraft, which would enable direct flights to destinations like Europe and North America.
The OLS survey, conducted in July 2024, plays a crucial role in ensuring safe aircraft operations by identifying obstacles around the airport. It helps create detailed maps of protected airspace to prevent interference with aircraft during takeoff and landing. Extending the runway is essential for handling wide-body aircraft that require larger fuel capacities for long-haul international flights.
Currently, the Pune Airport runway is 2,535 meters long and 45 meters wide. To meet international standards, an additional 800 meters of runway is required, bringing the total length to nearly 11,000 feet. The estimated cost of the land acquisition for this project is around INR 160 crore.
