Maharashtra CM push to new terminal work at Shirdi airport

PUNE: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday directed the Maharashtra Airport Development Company Limited (MADC) to initiate construction of the new terminal building of Shirdi airport without any delay.
Officials said that a consultant had been appointed for designing the new building, and work was expected to start by the year end. Kerala-based Kitco, which is developing Kochi and Kannur airports, has been appointed consultant for the project.
“The MADC board meeting is held once in every three months, and is chaired by the CM. However, there was not much talk about the Purandar project,” an official said.
MADC sources said that the new building, which will pave the way for the airport to become international, will have aspects of local architecture, including that of the Shirdi Saibaba Temple.It will be spread over an area of 2,500 square meters and will be adjacent to the existing building.
“The consultant will design the building, which will be approved by the MADC and the state government, after which the construction will begin. The airport has had an impressive run since it was inaugurated in October 2017 with 20 flight movements every day. The construction of the new building is expected to begin by the year end and it will take at least two and half years for the building to be ready,” the official said.
Last month, the authorities said that while SpiceJet and Air India had withdrawn three flights to destinations such as Jaipur, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad from the airport, a new flight to Hyderabad will be started by SpiceJet from July.
“IndiGo is expected to start a flight from the airport. The airline team has conducted pre-inspection of the facility recently. The flight is expected to start during the winter schedule, which starts from October end,” the official added. Giving an update on the delayed night landing facility, the official said that the plan was being developed with more added features and is expected to be ready by November this year.