Gandhinagar proposed as Mumbai-Nasik flight hub

Pushed by the long-standing demand by local businesses the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) will forward a proposal to make the Gandhinagar Army airbase the hub for Nasik-Mumbai air service instead of the Ozhar airbase, to the defence establishment in Pune.

Nobody would have guessed that the Ozhar airbase would face such a predicament when Deccan Airways' first flight of took off for Mumbai in March. One of the prime reasons for such a demand is its location-20 km away from the city.

Added to that is the lack of traffic, "With just 12 to 15 passengers taking the flight daily, operating out of Ozhar airbase is a singularly loss-making proposition for us," an Air Deccan official said.

Keeping all this in mind Nasik divisional commissioner Kishor Gajbhiye convened a meeting of all concerned departments and agreed to forward a proposal to the defence authorities, to switch the air service to Gandhinagar Army Airbase.

"Both MIDC and Air Deccan are ready to spend on infrastructure development-night-landing facility, availability of X-Ray machine and sheds to accommodate passengers-to upgrade the Gandhinagar airbase," Gajbhiye said.