Shirdi Airport, in the Indian state of Maharashtra, could handle its first flights next month.
The Times of India reports that the new hub will be managed by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) and will feature a 2,500-metre-long runway and a 3,000m² terminal building.
The airport will provide a boost for devotees of Sai Baba, the spiritual leader from Shirdi. Approximately 80,000 devotees visit the temple town every day, rising significantly on weekends, public holidays and festivals.
“The airport at Shirdi is almost ready,” Vishwas M. Patil, the MADC’s chairman & managing director told the newspaper. “In the domestic circuit, we expect four to five flights to land and take off from the airport. Some of the routes include Shirdi-Hyderabad, Shirdi-Delhi, Shirdi-Mumbai among others. More routes will be added in the near future,” he added.
At present the closest airport to Shirdi is in Aurangabad, 125km away.
