Pune Airport May Be Renamed After Jagatguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj, Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol Pushes Proposal
Mumbai, 26th August 2024: Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation, Murlidhar Mohol, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he recently met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. During this meeting, he advocated for renaming Pune International Airport after Jagatguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj.
Mohol shared that the Maharashtra State Government is supportive of the proposal and that it will soon be forwarded to the Central Government for approval. “Once the proposal is sent, we will actively follow up with the Central Government,” Mohol wrote.
Explaining the naming process, Mohol clarified that the Maharashtra State Government initiates the proposal, which is then submitted to the Central Government for final approval. “As Pune’s representative, I have formally requested the state government to consider this renaming,” he added.
Mohol emphasized that Lohgaon, where the airport is located, has a deep connection with Jagatguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj, as it was his mother’s village. “The close ties between Lohgaon and Sant Tukaram, along with the sentiments of the Warkari sect in Maharashtra, make this renaming especially fitting,” he concluded.
In addition to his proposal, Mohol recently conducted a thorough review of the airport’s facilities, including an inspection of the Medical Inspection (MI) Room. He evaluated the airport’s operational readiness and services, expressing satisfaction with the current standards while underscoring the need for ongoing improvements to meet the growing demands of travellers. His discussions with airport authorities focused on enhancing infrastructure and service quality to better accommodate increasing passenger traffic and improve overall efficiency. Mohol also highlighted Pune Airport’s importance as a key entry point to the city and the surrounding region, assuring that the Ministry of Civil Aviation would provide full support to address any challenges faced by the airport.
