Pune:
The Pune airport will be partially shut for the next three months from tomorrow for renovation. The runway of the airport, which is under the control of the Indian Air Force will be partially closed between 10 pm and 8 am every day. The Air Force will be flying its fighter jets during this time.
The partial shutdown would mean the airport will have to accommodate all its near 100 flights catering to close to 10,000 passengers every day during the available hours.
Due to the tight scheduling, the airport will need to handle a flight every seven minutes for the next three months.
The airport authorities, however, say they have made elaborate arrangements to ensure passengers are not put through any inconvenience.
Four bulletproof glass cabins have been constructed for security. Two additional x-ray machines have been placed for faster movement of luggage.
Two additional lanes have been cleared near the runways for increased vehicular traffic.
During the three-month period, new embedded lights will be laid along the centre line of the 8300 feet runway.
Many of the airlines have already rescheduled their flights except for German carrier Lufthansa which operates long-haul direct flight between Pune and Frankfurt and their request has been considered by the Air Force authorities.
An airport official said that the task to be undertaken involves major infrastructural work on the runway for which a minimum of 10 hours free block is mandatory for the contractors to carry out the job and make the runway available for use the next day.