New Chakan airport gets Rs200 crore nod

The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has sanctioned Rs200 crore for the proposed Chakan international airport, which will come up on a new 700-hectare site, adjacent to the previous one.

A 18-km metro railway corridor has also been proposed linking the airport to the international exhibition and convention centre in Moshi, said divisional commissioner, Dilip Band, on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference at the Pimpri Chinchwad New Township Development Authority (PCNTDA) office in Nigdi, he said, “The old site was scrapped due to farmers’ opposition, but there are no such hurdles at the new site. The project would require rehabilitation of only 80 households. The government will definitely offer more compensation to these families, as the project is extremely important for Pune,” he said.

With the development of the airport and the exhibition centre, the area will emerge as a major hub in the city.

There are 10,000 parking spaces available at the Moshi exhibition centre. Passengers can park their vehicles at the centre and can take the metro to the airport, Band said.

He added that the cost of the metro link would be borne by the PCNTDA and the Airports Authority of India. The PCNTDA will set up a special purpose vehicle for this venture.