E-Paper
Rs150 crore allocated to Shirdi airport in Maha Budget
Cargo facility will help to import agricultural goods from nearby places and night landing will help many devotees to travel for Shirdi Sai Baba darshan, says official
PUNE Shirdi airport received a major boost in the state budget as it has been allocated ₹150 crore for a separate terminal for cargo and night landing facilities.
“We were constantly pushing for the upgradation of the Shirdi airport as traffic at the airport has been increasing ever since it resumed operation from October 10, 2021, after the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted,” said a senior official from Shirdi airport on the request of anonymity.
“Cargo facility will help to import agricultural goods from nearby places and night landing will help many devotees to travel at night for Shirdi Sai Baba darshan,” said the official.
The Shirdi airport is managed by Maharashtra Airport Development Company Limited (MADC).
The work of the night landing facility is expected to be finished by April-end.
“The work of night landing and runway expansion is in final stages and it will be inspected by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) once it is completed in April and if DGCA approves the work without any changes then it could be operation from May 2022,” said the official.
The runway of Shirdi airport is expanded from 2,500 metres to 3,200 metres.
After resumption, the airport has two flights from Bengaluru and one each from Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad. From February 18, the Pune-Shirdi-Nagpur flight was also started.
“Once night landing starts more flight will be functional from other cities,” added the official.
Funds for airport development in Maharashtra Budget
₹150 crore Shirdi Airport to get separate terminal for cargo and night landing facilities
₹100 crore allocated for land acquisition and construction of Ratnagiri airport
New terminal, night landing facility and extension of the runway at Amravati airport to begin in 2022-23
New airport at Gadchiroli is under consideration
