MADC intends to install the necessary infrastructure for night landing so that the pilgrims flying to Shirdi every morning from Mumbai and Hyderabad can return on the same day
In order to have night landing facility at Shirdi airport by July, a team of Airport Authority of India (AAI) is going to conduct a survey on the 2.5-km-long runway at Shirdi airport to identify the required infrastructure for landing of flights at night.
The Shirdi airport is being managed by the Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation (MADC) and currently does not have night landing facilities.
The MADC intends to install the necessary infrastructure so that the pilgrims flying to Shirdi every morning from Mumbai and Hyderabad can return on the same day. Suresh Kakani, Managing Director of MADC, said, "We are getting good response from passengers despite the fact that only four flights to Mumbai and Hyderabad are operational daily. These flights are almost 80 per cent full."
Kakani added, "Our aim is now to have night landing facility by mid-monsoon so that majority of the fliers who are pilgrims can fly back to their destination on the same day of arrival. This will also serve the purpose of the airlines making it more feasible to ply on the Shirdi route once night landing facility is in."
The MADC has also tied up with the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) for them to run buses between Shirdi airport and Shirdi temple.
Shirdi, located around 250-km away from Mumbai, is a major pilgrimage location wherein around 50,000 pilgrims visit everyday. In order to facilitate those who would like visit the town by flight, Shirdi airport was made operational in October 2017.
Shirdi airport was constructed at Rs 350 crore of which around Rs 50 crore was contributed by the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust. It has a 2,500 metre long runway and is able to handle around 500 passengers in its terminal.
RELIEF TO PILGRIMS
- MADC intends to install the necessary infrastructure for night landing so that the pilgrims flying to Shirdi every morning from Mumbai and Hyderabad can return on the same day
- MADC has also tied up with the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) for them to run buses between Shirdi airport and Shirdi temple
- Every day, 50,000 pilgrims visit Shirdi which is around 250-km away from Mumbai
){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}
){kind=small}
 "Airport")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}