Pune: The expansion of Pune Airport's runway has received a significant boost as the Ministry of Defense approved the Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) survey on June 24. This development is expected to increase the number of international flights from Pune once the runway is extended.

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, had requested the OLS survey from Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. Following this, a meeting chaired by the Defense Secretary and attended by Pune Divisional Commissioner Chandrakant Pulakundwar on June 24 resulted in the Defense Ministry's decision to conduct the OLS survey through the Airports Authority of India.

Since the current runway of Pune Airport is owned by the Indian Air Force, the Defense Ministry's approval was crucial for this project. Mohol had written to Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and had a meeting with him to expedite the process. The subsequent meeting led by the Defense Secretary granted the necessary approval for the OLS survey.

This survey will facilitate the extension of the runway, allowing larger aircraft to operate from Pune. As international flights typically use larger aircraft, the runway expansion will pave the way for more international flights from Pune.

The lack of direct international flights to countries in Europe, the USA, and Japan has been adversely affecting Pune's growth. The current short runway restricts the operation of larger aircraft.

With the Defense Ministry's approval, the extension of Pune Airport's runway is set to proceed, which will enhance Pune's connectivity and growth prospects.

"This approval from Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will enable the expansion of Pune Airport's runway," said Murlidhar Mohol, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation.