Dist admin resolves temple issue to help airport runway extension

Kolhapur: The district administration has amicably sorted out the issue of a small temple that was coming in the way of work on

Kolhapur airport

’s runway, which is currently 1,370 meters and urgently needs to be extended by 1,000 meter.

The extended runway will be compatible with international standards, making it feasible for landing commercial aircraft like Airbus.

District collector Daulat Desai said that an alternative temple has been constructed in the nearby Gadmudshingi village and the said temple will most likely be moved to the new place with all the necessary rituals. “The movement will probably take place within the next two weeks.”The runway work will not be affected by this,” he said.

The district administration officials said that nine-acre land was required for the said expansion of the runway. The land for the same was acquired from nearby villages in 2018. The acquisition was done by the district administration and the Airports Authority of India. However, the work of runway expansion faced various obstacles, one of them being a small temple.

According to airport authorities, the ongoing runway extension work will have an impact on the underground electrification work, which is being carried out to facilitate night landing. “Therefore, the situation needs a quick solution,” the officials said.

Kolhapur

airport director Kamalkumar Kataria said that if the work gets delayed, it might result in price escalation, causing it to go into next year’s budget.

Notably, the development work worth Rs 274 crore is in progress. The work includes a 14-km compound wall, runway expansion worth Rs 80 crore and terminal building and air traffic control tower worth Rs 65 crore.