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BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
Pune, June 27, 2005: Come December and Pune will be playing host to its first international flight. Mr. Praful Patel, Minister of state for Civil Aviation, made this announcement while speaking at a meeting organised by the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) in the city on June 25. The meeting was organised by the Chamber to present Pune as a deserving city for an international airport. Also present at the meeting were Mr. Uday Dholkia, Hon. Director General, Indo-British Trade Council and representatives of airlines and export community from Pune.
Welcoming them Mr. Pratap Pawar, past President, MCCIA, explained the salient features of Pune’s industrial strength and the need for proper infrastructure to develop it further. Describing Pune as the hub of Automobiles, Auto components, Engineering, IT, Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture, Food Processing, Bio Technology, Education and Research, Mr Pawar stressed the efforts of MCCIA in projecting the city as an attractive destination for investments. Further, all these sectors have been experiencing significant growth with a huge potential to make it big in the global markets. In this context connecting business destinations is important and hence the need for an international civil airport at Pune assumes greater significance. On behalf of MCCIA, Mr. Pawar urged the Minister to expedite the process of settling the issues such as upgradation of Lohegaon airport, extension of watch hours, need for an air cargo terminal and an independent international airport.
It may be noted that the present passenger traffic of over 6 lakhs is expected to reach 25 lakhs in the next five years in addition to the growing import and export cargo. An air cargo terminal at Pune will benefit export oriented industries located in districts such as Ahmednagar, Kolhapur, Solapur, Satara, Sangli, Nasik and Aurangabad. With over 4000 foreign tourists, students and businessmen having visited Pune during the last year, direct international flights to Pune would further increase the traffic inflow.
Taking all these issues into consideration, Mr. P.C. Nambiar, on behalf of MCCIA, requested the Minister to look into the following requirements that allow Pune airport to function more efficiently:
§ Allow more scheduled flights during watch hours for both cargo and passengers (domestic & foreign). Also allow civil movements during 6 am to 10 pm.
§ Make available additional 10 acres of land sought by Airport Authority of India, an issue pending with Air Head Quarters and Ministry of Defence.
§ Provide infrastructure at the airport so as to allow Customs department to deploy men and machinery.
§ International Airport and air cargo facility at Chakan.
Sounding positive Mr Praful Patel said that international flights will initially be for closer destinations like Singapore and Dubai. For Pune this is a small step towards bigger things as it is just a matter of time when the city can boast of an international airport and its own air cargo terminal.
BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
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