NASHIK: Praful Patel, Union minister for heavy industries and public enterprises, inaugurated the new airport terminal at Ozar, around 20 km from Nashik city, on Monday, along with state Public Works Department (PWD) minister Chhagan Bhujbal and state revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat.

Patel — the former Union civil aviation minister — did not spell out any flight plan for Nashik in the near future.

"The Nashik airport will definitely help in decongestion of air traffic at Mumbai — especially now, when the new airport to be constructed in Mumbai will take at least seven years to be completed. The situation will only help the industrial, agricultural and tourism growth in the district," Patel said on the sidelines of the programme.

The state government and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) have jointly upgraded the Ozar airport at a cost of Rs 94 crore — with the state spending Rs 84 crore, while Rs 10 crore was HAL's expenditure on the project. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the government and HAL was signed in March 2011. Bhoomi pujan of the terminal at Ozar was done on January 2, 2012.

The new terminal, spread over 22 acres, with 8,267 sq metre built-up area, offers international-standard amenities. Around six planes can land here simultaneously. The air-conditioned building has a seating capacity of 300 passengers. The runway is 3.5 km in length and 60 metres in width.

The terminal is located around 20 km from Nashik. Road connectivity from the city to the airport has improved due to widening of the Mumbai-Agra National Highway 3, reducing travel time from 45 minutes to 15-20 minutes.

Patel pointed out the importance of airports in the "balanced development" of the country. "Airports boost regional development and the construction of such an airport boasting of modern technology, architecture and facilities will only bring in more visitors and flights to Nashik and assist in the development of the region," Patel said.

State PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who is also the district guardian minister, lauded the efforts of the PWD in the construction of the airport over a short span of time. "To start with, we hope to see hopping flights to Surat, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad and other areas from Nashik in the near future. As the traffic picks up, the airport will be a boost to the agricultural sector and tourism, especially during the forthcoming Kumbh Mela," Bhujbal said.