Nanded is a major pilgrimage spot for Sikhs and the second largest city in Marathwada region.
Drawing the Central government's attention to the lack of air connectivity in Nanded – a major pilgrimage spot for Sikhs and the second largest city in Marathwada region – finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar has written to the civil aviation ministry.
Mungantiwar, considered to be second in command in the BJP-led Maharashtra government, has asked the authorities to connect Nanded's Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji airport to Mumbai, and start services on the New Delhi-Mumbai-Nanded and Nanded-Mumbai-New Delhi routes. He stated that this will act as a catalyst for trade and tourism in the region.
Replying to his letter late last month, Minister of State (Independent), Ministry of Civil Aviation, Mahesh Sharma said, "I am having the matter looked into". Mungantiwar said Nanded is among the oldest cities in Marathwada. It is the headquarter of the Nanded district and second largest city in Marathwada, after Aurangabad. It is also the eighth largest urban agglomeration of Maharashtra. "Nanded has been a major place for Sikh pilgrimage. Huzur Sahib in Nanded is the second holiest site in Sikhism, next only to Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) of Amritsar," he said.
The airport was redeveloped and upgraded in 2008. Aviation Regulator Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) then awarded it the Provisional Aerodrome License in the public use category in April 2010. On October 1, 2010, the airport received the permanent license, said the officials.
The now defunct Kingfisher airlines was the first to start services from Nanded. Spicejet and GoAir also joined in at different times, only to discontinue later due to lack of enough demand. As per the aviation sources, none of the private airlines are keen to start services there at present.
During the Lok Sabha proceedings in March this year, Congress' Rajiv Satav asked the civil aviation ministry to press national carrier Air India (AI) to connect the unconnected airports such as Nanded. Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapati Raju, in his reply to the demand, said the government will not "force" AI into flying to unconnected cities. He added that there was a proposal under the new aviation policy to connect unserved airports under the regional connectivity scheme.
According to the state government officials, Maharashtra plans to announce a regional air connectivity policy after the one introduced by the Government of India is finalised. This policy will boost regional development and attract investment by developing regional air connectivity at district and regional headquarters and smaller centres.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Sudhir Mungantiwar")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}