Pune: A report from the Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) survey, which was conducted two months ago to assess the possibility of extending the Pune airport runway, has been submitted to the Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Surprisingly, the Pune airport administration claims to have no knowledge of this report, raising concerns over transparency in the process.
The Pune airport administration took to social media to clarify that the OLS report has not yet been received by them. They reassured the public that the survey is still in progress and that once the report is received, it will be handled appropriately.
The OLS survey is crucial for determining potential obstacles, including buildings and constructions, that may hinder the extension of the runway. The Pune airport has long been seeking an extension to its existing 2,535-meter (8,316-foot) runway, to accommodate larger aircraft and handle increasing air traffic.
The report, which has been sent to AAI’s headquarters in Delhi, indicates potential obstacles near the eastern side of the runway, where new buildings are being constructed close to the landing point.
According to senior airport officials, these structures fall within the airport’s ‘funnel zone’—an area critical for safe aircraft landings and take-offs. If these obstacles are not addressed, they could delay the extension of the runway.
The OLS survey also reportedly mentions these building obstructions in the cartography section, which could directly affect the proposed extension.
For the runway to be extended by 800 meters, an additional 500 meters of land is required to the east and 300 meters to the west. The expansion would bring the total runway length to 10,940 feet, enabling larger aircraft to land at Pune airport and significantly boosting its capacity to handle international traffic.
Dhairyasheel Wandekar, an aviation expert, said “It is the responsibility of the airport administration to obtain the report from the headquarters and present the findings to the citizens of Pune. While the report is essential for planning, it must also take into account the safety and operational efficiency of the airport."
