Pune: The planned expansion of Pune Airport's runway has hit a potential snag due to ongoing construction near the runway's eastern landing point.
The building, currently under construction, has raised concerns among airport authorities as it could obstruct the airport's funnel zone, posing risks to aircraft landings and complicating the runway extension project.
Recently, the Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) survey report for Pune Airport's runway was submitted to the Airports Authority of India.
This report, initially expected to be favorable, has now highlighted a significant issue: the building's height to the east of the runway may interfere with the proposed expansion.
The cartography included in the OLS report indicates that the building could become a major obstacle, potentially jeopardizing the entire runway extension.
In response to the report, airport authorities are scrutinizing the construction of the building in question. Specifically, they are investigating whether the building adhered to the No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the airport authorities regarding its height.
If it is found that additional, unauthorized floors have been constructed, these may need to be demolished to ensure the safety of aircraft operations.
Current Runway Expansion Plans:
The current length of Pune Airport's runway is 2,535 meters (8,316 feet) with a width of 45 meters.
To accommodate larger aircraft and increase operational capacity, an additional 800 meters is planned, extending the runway to approximately 10,940 feet.
The expansion requires acquiring 500 meters of land on the eastern side and 300 meters on the western side of the runway, with land acquisition costs estimated at ₹160 crore.
Once extended to around 11,000 feet, the runway will be capable of handling larger aircraft, significantly enhancing the airport's capabilities.
Call for Transparency and Legal Action
Aviation experts are calling for transparency regarding the OLS report. Dhairyasheel Vandekar, an aviation expert, emphasized the necessity of Pune Airport's runway expansion and stressed that any construction violating regulations should be subject to legal action.