New wings to Vidarbha Amravati Airport represents Maharashtra’s leap in aviation capabilities: CM Fadnavis
   Date :17-Apr-2025

New wings to Vidarbha Amravati Airport
 (left)The inaugural flight at Amravati Airport being given ceremonial ‘water cannon salute’ upon its arrival, on Wednesday. (PTI Photo) {right} 
Mahatashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis speaking at the inauguration of Amravati Airport on Wednesday. Union Civil Aviaton Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, State Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar and other dignitaries seated on the dais. 
 
 
Amravati Bureau :
 
  • ‘Pilot training school at Amravati to be the biggest in South East Asia’
  • Confusion over airport’s name continues - On Page 2
 
In AN important step towards enhancing regional connectivity and boosting socio-economic development, the Amravati Airport was officially inaugurated and operationalised on Wednesday. The inauguration was done by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the presence of Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, State Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. The event, considered to be the milestone in industrial, trade and economic growth of Western Vidarbha, was also graced by Murlidhar Mohol, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Guardian Minister of Amravati, Girish Mahajan, Minister of Irrigation, Akash Fundkar, Minister of Labour, Sanjay Sethi, Additional Chief Secretary, General Administration Department, Swati Pandey, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Maharashtra Airport Development Company Limited (MADC), Balwant Wankhade, MP, Amar Kale, MP, Dr Anil Bonde, Rajya Sabha Member, Sanjay Khodke, MLC, Kiran Sarnaik, MLC, Ravi Rana, MLA, Sulabha Khodke, MLA, Pravin Tayde, MLA, Rajesh Wankhade, MLA and others including senior officers from the ministry of Civil Aviation, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and Airport Authority of India.
 
The ceremony commenced with the arrival of Alliance Air flight 91-633 at Amravati Airport at 11.20 am. It had taken off from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Upon arrival, the plane was given the ceremonial ‘water cannon salute’, signifying the commencement of commercial operations at the airport.
Later, along with the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers, Bawankule, Sanjay Sethi, Swati Pandey, former MP Navneet Rana, MLC Sanjay Khodke and other dignitaries also travelled aboard the inaugural flight.
Fadnavis said on the occasion that the inauguration of Amravati Airport represented a significant leap in Maharashtra’s aviation capabilities. “This project is testament to our commitment to inclusive growth and providing economic upliftment. The Amravati Airport will play a pivotal role in improving air connectivity, particularly for Vidarbha and surrounding regions, thereby fostering greater integration With the national and global economy,” he said.
 
The CM said that expansion of the Amravati Airport will take place in future and the runway will be expanded to 3,000 meter from current 1,800 meter so that it can become operational as a full-fledged airport.
Fadnavis hailed the Flight Training Organisation calling it an important development as Amravati would come on international map for being the largest pilot training centre in Asia. “FTO would accelerate economic activities, boost tourism, trade and create jobs. It would give new identity to Amravati and is a biggest gift from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Amravati,” he said. He also mentioned the PM-MITRA Textile Park announced for Amravati. “It would generate about 2 lakh jobs. It will provide huge benefit to cotton growers of Vidarbha,” he said.
The Samruddhi Expressway, which has been already connected with JNPT, will also be connected with Vadhavan Port, one of India’s largest ports, and thus it will become a portland hub, the Chief Minister said.
The Wainganga-Nalganga project will bring about 7 lakh hectare land under irrigation and it will made Vidarbha drought-free, said Fadnavis.
 
On the occasion, the CM assured that the State Government would develop airports at Akola and Yavatmal as well in due time. Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said that the airport at Amravati will open new vistas of progress. “There has been an increase in the number of air travellers by 40 percent in last 10 years, thanks to the vision of NDA Government and its focus on aviation sector. There were only 74 airports in India till 2014 and now there are 159. Similarly the passenger capacity has also reached 220 million from earlier 100 million,” the Union Minister informed. Murlidhar Mohol said that the rising demand for flight services is an indication of progress of the country. “The Aviation Department has set a target for now to developed 400 airports and this will be achieved in next 10 years,” he said.
 
Ajit Pawar said that the new airport at Amravati would give wings to the dreams of people of the district. “Maharashtra state has maximum number of airports in India. State Government will try to develop as many airports as possible in all 11 districts in Vidarbha. Government has set an target to connect most of the districts in the State this way,” he informed. Eknath Shinde said that the projects that were left hanging during the previous Maha
Vikas Aghadi Government have gained momentum now during the Mahayuti Government regime. “Amravati Airport will prove to be a game changer for trade, industries, education and communication for Amravati,” he said.
 
‘Pilot training school at Amravati to be the biggest in South East Asia’
 
At the inauguration of the airport at Amravati on Wednesday, CMDevendra Fadnavis said that the pilot training school coming up near Amravati city will be the largest such institution in South East Asia. He flagged off a demonstration flight of Air India’s Flying Training Organisation (FTO), marking an important milestone in development of aviation training and capacity building in region. The school, which will come up in five to six months, will produce around 180 pilots every year and will have at its disposal 34 aircraft for training, Fadnavis said. Union Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said about theFTO that it will boost socio-economic, trade and industrial development of the region. “India will get 1,700 new planes soon and it will create requirement of about 30,000 pilots. This explains the importance of FTO in the scheme of things,” he said.
 
Confusion over airport’s name continues
Confusion around the name of Amravati’s new airport still prevails as the name ‘Pragyachakshu Sant Gulabrao Maharaj Amravati Airport’ featured in a display clip presented during the inauguration event. Earlier, the invitation letter sent to MP Balwant Wankhade had mentioned the name as ‘Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Airport’. While there are people and groups who want the airport to be named after Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh, the first Agriculture Minister of India, some others want it to be named after Sant Gulabrao Maharaj. Meanwhile, MADC has now clarified that official decision about the name is pending as of now.
 
In its clarification, MADC stated, “It has come to our attention that during today’s inauguration event at Amravati Airport, a display clip featured the name Pragyachakshu Sant Gulabrao Maharaj Amravati Airport. We would like to clarify that no Official decision has been taken regarding the naming of the airport as of now. The mention of this name was an inadvertent error on the part of the event management vendor responsible for stage setup and creative displays. The said creative was prepared and displayed without prior approval or knowledge of the concerned authorities.” Meanwhile, a notice has been issued to the vendor, seeking an explanation and appropriate action will be taken against those found responsible, stated MADC.