The Baramati MP, Supriya Sule, has proposed to develop a water aerodrome project at the Ujjani reservoir, under the Civil Aviation Ministry’s UDAN – Regional Connectivity Scheme.
As such, she has requested the Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to extend the proposed water aerodrome project to Ujjani, considering the strategic location and suitability of the reservoir. Sule, in a letter as per The Indian Express, said that the Ujjani reservoir was located at the junction of Ahmednagar, Sholapur and Pune districts. It is over 125 kms away from the nearest commercial airport at Lohegaon in Pune City.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, water aerodromes can be built at much less cost and time, as compared to land based airports. They do not require physical construction of the runway, apron and the allied infrastructure of a land-based airport.
Sule said the water aerodrome would provide proximate air-connectivity for the devotees of Vitthal-Rukmini Temple in Pandharpur, as well as for the nearly 10 lakh people living in within 50 kms of the proposed water aerodrome. “Due to the relatively high levels of income of the residents in the region, I believe that commercial flight operations would find sufficient number of passengers throughout the year,” Sule pointed out. “The reservoir is Z-shaped and therefore, there are possibly two to three alignments for take off and landing that would ensure sufficient distance from Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary, as per the norms.”
Ayush Prasad, Pune Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer, told The Hindu that if approved by the Centre, the Ujjani water-drome project would significantly enhance connectivity at a vital commercial centre in Maharashtra’s rural hinterland. “If the project is greenlighted, then it will boost rural connectivity as envisaged by the UDAN scheme. It is definitely commercially viable as the reservoir is located in the middle of Maharashtra’s sugar heartland, and people here are relatively properous.”
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Prasad highlighted that improved connectivity would help people in the region connect with major cities and also boost tourist and pilgrim footfall.
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