PUNE: The Defence Ministry has allowed Pune Airport authorities to increase five flights during night hours. The decision was taken on Wednesday when Pune MP Girish Bapat and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. Pune Airport is a Defence airport.
Another issue that was taken up during the meeting was handing over of Defence land to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for expansion of Old Pune-Mumbai highway near Khadki. However, it was not resolved.
Bapat was accompanied by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Commissioner Saurabh Rao and senior officials of Pune Metro. They also met Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Bapat said, “I sought permission to allow more flights at Pune Airport as passenger flow has increased drastically. It was approved by Union Defence Minister Singh. However, the Minster gave permission to increase flights during the night instead of day time.”
“Singh also agreed in principle to hand over Defence land for multi-level parking near Pune Airport, Chandni Chowk multi-flyover project and expansion of Pune Airport road,” the Pune MP added.
Defence land for projects
Parking is a major issue at Pune Airport and pending for more than five years. The Defence Minister will give 3.5 acres land to Pune Airport to build multi-level parking. On all these issues, Pune Airport officials and Air Force officials will conduct a meeting soon.
For Chandni Chowk multi-level flyover project, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) wanted Defence land for expansion of NDA Road. The Defence Ministry has given the green signal to hand over land to NHAI. The Defence Ministry granted permission for road widening on land belonging to the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Chandni Chowk, where the flyover is being constructed. In lieu of the land, the NHAI will build a huge gate of NDA, compound wall, visitor room and other facilities for NDA staffers.
Old Pune-Mumbai Highway
The PMC has undertaken project to expand the Old Pune-Mumbai Highway on the stretch from Khadki Railway Station to Bopodi Chowk.
According PMC officials, “At the meeting, land issue was discussed. However, it was not resolved. The reason is that Defence and PMC could not find a solution on the compensation for the handover of Defence land. Defence has given positive response and gave options for compensation of land - equal value of land or equal value of infrastructure. Now, the PMC has to decide which option is more
feasible.”
Defence land needed
