Mumbai, April 25
In view of the upcoming Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday approved the construction of two helipads and eight parking lots at Shirdi Airport, along with the expansion and modernisation of the airport.
He also instructed that a plan for expanding the runway at Amravati Airport be submitted. CM Fadnavis chaired the 91st meeting of the Board of Directors of the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) on Friday.
Considering the potential crowd during the event and the capacity limitations at Nashik Airport, the expansion proposal for Shirdi Airport was approved. This includes modernisation of the terminal, construction of eight parking lots, and two helipads. This will benefit air and helicopter services during the Kumbh Mela.
He also mentioned that work on the cargo terminal at Shirdi Airport is progressing rapidly. Since Shirdi Airport is closer to Nashik, it will be convenient for pilgrims travelling by air during the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela.
Fadnavis noted that the runway at Amravati Airport needs to be expanded due to the growing industrial network in the area, and a revenue-generating plan for the airport should also be prepared.
The Latur district is witnessing significant growth in various sectors, making Latur Airport strategically important. The Chief Minister stated that the airport should be developed accordingly, which will also benefit the nearby Beed and Dharashiv districts. He also instructed to expedite the work at Karad Airport and develop night landing facilities there.
At Chandrapur Airport, the runway should be extended to allow chartered aircraft to land. For Gadchiroli Airport, he suggested considering two to three alternative locations.
Updates were also reviewed for airports at Ratnagiri, Akola, Kolhapur, Nanded and Dhule. Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme, air services are currently operating on 16 routes within the state. It was informed that eight proposals have been submitted to the central government under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great move by the CM! The Kumbh Mela attracts lakhs of devotees and better airport facilities will make travel much smoother. The helipads are especially smart thinking for VIP movements and emergencies. ðŸ‘
While infrastructure development is good, I hope they're also considering environmental impact assessments for all these projects. The helipads especially could cause noise pollution near Shirdi's sacred sites.
Finally some focus on regional airports! Maharashtra needs better connectivity beyond just Mumbai and Pune. The cargo terminal at Shirdi could be game-changing for local businesses too.
As someone who travels frequently to Shirdi, this is wonderful news! The current facilities are quite basic. Hope they maintain the spiritual atmosphere while modernizing though ðŸ™
Good planning ahead of Kumbh Mela. But what about long-term maintenance? We've seen many infrastructure projects deteriorate quickly after initial hype. Need sustainable plans!
The focus on multiple airports across Maharashtra is impressive. Night landing at Karad and extended runway at Chandrapur will boost tourism in these areas. Well thought out! ðŸ‘
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