Pune: Indian Air Force Agrees To Hand Over Land For Alternative Lohegaon Road Which Will Be Closed Due To Runway Extension
Pune, 16th June 2023: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has reached an agreement with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) body to hand over land for the construction of an alternative Loehgaon road, while the IAF plans to take over the existing Lohegaon road for a long-pending runway extension project. The agreement was made during a joint meeting at the Pune Air Force Station, attended by PMC officials, IAF representatives, and other senior officials.
The IAF will give land providing an alternative route for the residents of Lohegaon and Dhanori. This development comes as the runway extension project gains importance due to the need for accommodating widebody aircraft such as the Airbus A340s and Boeing 747s, which can carry a larger number of passengers. Currently, the airport operates with narrowbody aircraft like the Airbus 319s, 320s, and Boeing 737s.
Vikas Dhakne, the additional commissioner of PMC, stated, “Several issues regarding the runway extension were discussed in the meeting. The air force authorities have agreed to hand over their land close to the quarry. Now, we will be able to construct a 1.8km road of 24m width. In return, the air force authorities will complete the runway extension work.”
The current runway length is 8,333 feet (2,539m), and the IAF intends to extend it to 10,000 feet (3,048m) to meet their operational requirements and the civil flight demands at the Pune airport.
The decision to proceed with the runway extension and road construction was welcomed by MLA Sunil Tingre, who has been actively pursuing this matter with the PMC and IAF authorities since 2012. He emphasized that addressing the concerns of the residents in Dhanori and Lohegaon areas is crucial, along with ensuring the smooth operation of the IAF.
Upon receiving the land from the IAF, the PMC plans to initiate the road construction promptly. Additionally, a 10-foot perimeter wall will be erected along the 1.8km road to enhance the security of the air force station.
In March of the previous year, the defense ministry approved the transfer of 13 acres of land belonging to the IAF to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). This land transfer aimed to facilitate the relocation of the existing cargo terminal at Pune airport and the construction of a new domestic and international cargo terminal. Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari expressed his optimism regarding this development, highlighting its potential to bolster cargo operations and benefit western Maharashtra in terms of exporting agricultural and industrial products.
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