05 April,2011 06:00 AM IST | | Debarati Palit
IAF yet to spring into action regarding the extension of the runway at Lohegaon
Even as the long-drawn process for the acquisition of 20 acres of land to extend the runway of the Indian Air Force's (IAF) station at Lohegaon concluded a month back, with Pune district collectorate handing the land over to the IAF, the airport authority of India (Pune) is still clueless about the status of the deal.
PSRK Sudhakar, Airport Director said, "It's true that we haven't heard a word from IAF. They are the one who will take the ultimate decision on the development of the runway, including its length. We function under the IAF, and will have to wait for them to announce it formally."
He further added that the extension would allow the airport to have bigger aircrafts to land. "Currently we have flights with capacity of maximum 188 passengers. After extending the runway, aircrafts like airbus 300 can also land."
Papers handed over
Officials from the collector's office also maintain that the papers have been handed over to the concerned IAF officials. Resident Deputy Collector Anil Pawar said, "We have physically handed over the acquisition papers to the IAF long ago. We have not delayed any process."
That extra mile
The police are drawing up the sketches of the accused and one of them seems to resemble a suspect of the
Navi Mumbai firing incident.
A construction supervisor at a building site was injured in the incident. Incidentally, the phone number, scribbled on both the envelopes, is the same.
