Pune: If you are a frequent flyer, then there is good news for you. The Lohegaon airport will soon have 220 flights operating daily with 34 check-in counters inside for the convenience of passengers. The expansion project of Lohegaon airport will be completed in just 1.5 or 2 years from now and it will be thrown open for citizens immediately.
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) released this information on Wednesday. Former Member of Parliament Anil Shirole had taken initiative to streamline the long pending expansion work of Lohegaon airport. The airport belongs to the Indian Air Force under the Defence Ministry. The project initially got delayed but then the work was started 1.5 years before.
The AAI has made available a fund of Rs 475 crore for this expansion project. Once the project is completed, the airport authorities can handle 2300 passengers during the peak hours at the airport. There will be 34 check-in counters for this purpose.
Construction of a three-storied building for parking purpose is presently going on. It is expected to be completed till April 2022. The new building of the airport is environment-friendly. Also a 10 lakh litre capacity project of waste water management is also being set up inside the airport premises.
The construction work of the new building of the airport is almost 40 per cent completed. Due to the Covid-19 outbreak and related protocols in place, at present only limited traffic has been permitted from the airport. Presently, only 40 flights are operating daily with 9000 passengers arriving and departing from the airport.
Kuldeep Singh, Director of Lohegaon Airport said, “The expanded capacity of the airport will enable us to operate 10 flights per hour. Considering the need of Pune city, this expansion work project needs to be completed as soon as possible.”
Features of new buildings at Pune Airport
• New terminal building area – 5 lakh square feet
• New three storey parking building capacity – 1024 cars
• Domestic passengers’ capacity at peak hours – 1700
• International passengers’ capacity at peak hours – 600
• Aerobridges for passengers – 10
• Food outlets and commercial space – 3200 square feet