Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the additional land of 15.84 acres will be given to AAI on a lease.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday said the Indian Air Force (IAF) will give 15 acres of additional land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the expansion of city-based Lohegaon airport.
"The additional land of 15.84 acres will be given to AAI on a lease and formal procedure of land transfer will be done soon. However, AAI can begin the work immediately," said Mr Parrikar, after meeting officials of AAI, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the local representatives.
"Since Pune airport is a part of the IAF's Lohegaon air base, which is sensitive establishment for the Air Force, AAI authorities under the guidance of the IAF will erect a safety wall in order to restrict common people and workers from entering into secured zone of IAF," the Minister said.
Pune District Guardian Minister, Girish Bapat, who was present for the meeting, said in the last two years, the footfall at Lohegaon International Airport has increased from 35 lakh to 55 lakh and even the flight movements have gone up.