The travel time to Shirdi from Mumbai is expected to reduce to 40 minutes as against five hours by road at present.
MUMBAI: President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the newly-built Shirdi Airport in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district on Sunday. He also flagged off the first Alliance Air commercial flight from Shirdi to Mumbai.The year 2018 marks the 100 anniversary of the samadhi of Shri Sai Baba, one of the most revered saints of the globe.
The airport project is part of the Maharashtra Government’s effort to promote religious tourism at Shirdi, known for the temple of Sai Baba.
The Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust of Shirdi is celebrating the centenary year of Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi from 1 October this year to October 18, 2018.The airport secured the aerodrome licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for commercial operations last month.
President Kovind was accompanied by Maharashtra Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil during the visit to Shirdi in Ahmednagar district.The Ahmednagar district, around 250 km away from Mumbai.
The pilgrims access Shirdi via road, Sainagar Shirdi Railway Station and the Aurangabad Airport located 125 km from Shirdi.The airport is capable of handling single narrow-body aircraft, such as Airbus A320 and Boeing 737s with a 2,500 meter long runway.
