Pune needs new airport at Chakan: Air Force chief

Pune needs to push forward with the proposed Chakan international airport plan quickly, according to Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Naik.

He was responding to a question about the frequent tug-of-war between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) over the joint use of the Lohegaon airbase at his press conference in the city on Saturday.

Naik said, “The proposed plan for an alternative airport for Pune is 10 years old. We have been encouraging the government to work on this project quickly. At our meeting with the Union civil aviation minister, Praful Patel in New Delhi two weeks ago, we spoke about improving coordination between the AAI and the IAF over use of the Lohegaon airbase and also suggested that the Chakan airport plans be pushed.”

Naik told media persons that joint usage of an airfield was bound to produce problems. “Jagda hota hee rahega (quarrels will keep happening). The civil sector will want more flights from Pune, while as the Pune IAF base is an important jet base, we too want to fly more.”