Work on IAF station may begin by March

Talking to The Indian Express, IAF 2 Wing spokesperson said, “The peripheral work for the project is expected to start by March. The actual work pertaining to the runway will take some time.”

The project is already delayed. Last year during his visit to the city, Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne had announced that the project was expected to begin in Pune by November 2012.

“The pilot project in Bathinda is over. The one in Pune will start in November. The preparations have started. The building for tetra school, which trains our personnel on MAFI is ready. The work will be carried out during nights and will continue till morning, while the operations continue through the day,” Browne had then said.

The MAFI project involves upgrade of 30 Air Force bases in the country. Pune is one of the airbases in phase I. The phase I was supposed to be completed within three years. The upgrade of the station is expected to benefit the civil airport as MAFI will bring some of the most modern equipment such as the instrument landing system (ILS)- with localiser antenna and guide-path buildings, both of which can enhance navigation, especially night vision.

Automated Air Traffic Control (ATC), runway lights are some of the other benefits expected, besides others. While the airport already has a Distant Measuring Equipment, there is a possibility

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