Nanded, latur to be connected by air

First commercial flights from Nanded and Latur, two industrial towns in the backward regions of Marathwada, are expected to take off within the next few months.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had called a meeting of airlines to discuss the issue of connecting smaller towns in the state by air route. The meeting was attended by Kingfisher Airlines Chairman Vijay Mallya, senior officials from Jet Airways and other leading airlines.

Speaking with Business Standard, a senior official from the ministry of industry said: “We expect to get air worthiness certificate from the director general of civil aviation for both these airports in the next two to three months. After that we expect the first commercial flights to take off from these airports.”

The two airports have been developed by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), the state industrial infrastructure agency.

Besides, the possibility of starting commercial flights from Sholapur is also being explored.

The state government has also agreed to take up the issues raised by the aviation industry about resuming operations from Nashik with the defence ministry as the Nashik airport is part of the air force base, the official added.