Pune Airport Set For International Flights As Runway Expansion Gets Green Light

In a significant development for Pune, the minister of state for civil aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, announced that the obstacle limitation survey (OLS) has received a positive response.

This clears the way for extending the runway at Pune Airport and will pave the way for international flight operations.

According to Hindustan Times, the high-level meeting took place on Tuesday at the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation in Delhi. Mohol expressed optimism, stating, “The OLS report for the runway extension is positive, which means we can expect international flights from Pune Airport after addressing a few technical issues.”

To facilitate these international flights, code ‘E’ aircraft will be permitted. Mohol noted that although some technical aspects still need to be finalized, the swift completion of the OLS indicates progress. “The survey to check the feasibility of this expansion has been completed rapidly. It’s great news for the people of Pune,” he added.

The meeting covered various topics, including land acquisition from the state government, the transfer of land from the Ministry of Defence, apron area, runway length, and a new terminal building for Pune Airport. Mohol instructed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to work closely with the Ministry of Defence and the state government to carry out necessary surveys for the project.

Key officials at the meeting included the secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Vumlunmang Vualnam; additional secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Deepti Mohil Chawla; AAI chairperson M. Suresh; Pune divisional commissioner Chandrakant Pulkundwar; group captain Manoj Rana; air marshal Y.K. Dixit; and Pune Airport director Santosh Dhoke.

The OLS for Pune Airport was completed at the end of July this year. A special AAI team visited Pune to conduct the survey, inspecting high buildings and trees in the area, as well as takeoff and landing points. The report included a detailed drawing.

Currently, the runway at Pune Airport measures 2,535 meters (8,316 feet) long and 45 meters wide. To extend the runway, an additional 500 meters is needed on the eastern side and 300 meters on the western side.

With an extension of about 800 meters, the total runway length would reach approximately 10,940 feet, allowing even larger aircraft to land. The estimated cost for site acquisition is around ₹160 crore.