Pune: Runway Expansion of Pune International Airport Reviewed in High-Level Meeting

By Akshata Pawar
Pune, 11th June 2025: A high-level review meeting was held at the VVIP Circuit House in Pune today to assess the ongoing runway expansion work at Pune International Airport, a key step toward enhancing infrastructure to support increased international flight operations.

The meeting was chaired by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, who emphasized the strategic importance of the project. “The runway expansion is essential to unlock Pune airport’s true international potential. All agencies have been directed to expedite land acquisition, road realignment, and other technical processes,” Mohol said via a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Focus on Speed and Coordination:
The meeting included detailed discussions on land acquisition, the construction of alternative access roads, widening of existing routes, and other technical aspects critical to runway extension.

Officials from the Airport Authority of India (AAI), Indian Air Force (IAF), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Traffic Police, and district administration were present. Directions were issued to accelerate all processes and ensure close coordination among agencies to avoid delays.

Key Officials in Attendance:
Nawal Kishore Ram – Commissioner, Pune Municipal Corporation
Jitendra Dudi – District Collector, Pune
Kavita Dvivedi – Additional Divisional Commissioner
Group Captain Kuldeep Singh and Group Captain Sachin Arora – Indian Air Force
Santosh Dhoke – Director, Pune Airport
Prashant Waghmare – City Engineer
Vanshree Labhshetwar – Deputy Commissioner
Aniruddha Pawaskar – Head, Road Department, PMC
Jagdish Urkude – Representative, AAI

The expansion of the existing runway is expected to significantly enhance flight handling capacity and pave the way for direct long-haul international connectivity from Pune. With land and infrastructure constraints being actively addressed, authorities are optimistic that the project will meet key milestones within schedule.