AAI planning flexible use of Kolhapur airport
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KOLHAPUR: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is considering introduction of night landing facilities at Kolhapur airport, a facility that can bring in additional air services to the city.
The AAI is preparing a plan to use the airport for parking a couple of aircraft to reduce the congestion at Mumbai and Pune airports, said officials associated with the development.
"We are working over ways to see if there can be multiple use of the Kolhapur airport. We are planning to re-route a couple of night flights originally scheduled for Mumbai airport to Kolhapur. The flights will reach Mumbai and then carry Kolhapur-bound passengers to the city at night. The plane will be parked in Kolhapur and it will leave the airport next morning with Mumbai-bound passengers," said an official, who however did not wish to be identified.
Officials said the plan "is tentative but viable" as the flyers from Kolhapur can have a continuous service immediately. "We are waiting for the licence to commence the operation. Once we receive the licence, we can undertake work such as expansion of the airstrip. However, our immediate focus will be to complete the night landing facility," an official said.
The state government had in August this year handed over the airport at Ujalaiwadi from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) to the AAI. Ashok Patil, the regional officer of MIDC, Kolhapur, said the formalities for the transer have been completed and at present the airport is with AAI.
"We have informally discussed several plans to revive the air service to Kolhapur. We have given some suggestions. However, it is AAI's mandate now to go for the feasible solutions," said Patil, adding that night landing and extension of airstrip would be the AAI's first priority. There are other plans on the radar, he said.
Business experts feel that the lack of airport has become the hurdle for the further growth of Kolhapur. New industries and sectors like information and technology are based on the connectivity, experts said.
"Cities developed in past two decades by exploring opportunities made available through air connectivity. Kolhapur has infrastructure and talent. It also has good data connectivity; but lags behind in air connectivity. The advantage of geographical location of this city can be utilized once the airport starts operating," said Kulbhushan Birnale, president of the Converse International Network, an institute working as networking platform for industries.
Lack of an airport in Kolhapur was a major drawback for the growth of the industrial sector in the region. Industrial units at Kagal MIDC, many of them with a turnover of over Rs 50 crore, have collaboration with multinational companies. Foreign delegates, who regularly visit Kagal, have to travel by air till Pune or Mumbai and then take the road route to reach Kolhapur. The airport in Kolhapur will help them reach the city faster and in turn increase the business engagements.
Industrialists are hopeful that the pending demand will materialize soon and the city will have more flights.
The AAI is preparing a plan to use the airport for parking a couple of aircraft to reduce the congestion at Mumbai and Pune airports, said officials associated with the development.
"We are working over ways to see if there can be multiple use of the Kolhapur airport. We are planning to re-route a couple of night flights originally scheduled for Mumbai airport to Kolhapur. The flights will reach Mumbai and then carry Kolhapur-bound passengers to the city at night. The plane will be parked in Kolhapur and it will leave the airport next morning with Mumbai-bound passengers," said an official, who however did not wish to be identified.
Officials said the plan "is tentative but viable" as the flyers from Kolhapur can have a continuous service immediately. "We are waiting for the licence to commence the operation. Once we receive the licence, we can undertake work such as expansion of the airstrip. However, our immediate focus will be to complete the night landing facility," an official said.
The state government had in August this year handed over the airport at Ujalaiwadi from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) to the AAI. Ashok Patil, the regional officer of MIDC, Kolhapur, said the formalities for the transer have been completed and at present the airport is with AAI.
"We have informally discussed several plans to revive the air service to Kolhapur. We have given some suggestions. However, it is AAI's mandate now to go for the feasible solutions," said Patil, adding that night landing and extension of airstrip would be the AAI's first priority. There are other plans on the radar, he said.
Business experts feel that the lack of airport has become the hurdle for the further growth of Kolhapur. New industries and sectors like information and technology are based on the connectivity, experts said.
"Cities developed in past two decades by exploring opportunities made available through air connectivity. Kolhapur has infrastructure and talent. It also has good data connectivity; but lags behind in air connectivity. The advantage of geographical location of this city can be utilized once the airport starts operating," said Kulbhushan Birnale, president of the Converse International Network, an institute working as networking platform for industries.
Lack of an airport in Kolhapur was a major drawback for the growth of the industrial sector in the region. Industrial units at Kagal MIDC, many of them with a turnover of over Rs 50 crore, have collaboration with multinational companies. Foreign delegates, who regularly visit Kagal, have to travel by air till Pune or Mumbai and then take the road route to reach Kolhapur. The airport in Kolhapur will help them reach the city faster and in turn increase the business engagements.
Industrialists are hopeful that the pending demand will materialize soon and the city will have more flights.
