By Tejas

Pune, September 24, 2024: The Maharashtra government has taken an important decision to name the Pune international airport as Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj International Airport Pune. In this regard, the state cabinet approved the proposal on Monday.

"Now, the proposal will be sent to the centre for further proceedings," said the official.

The original demand to name the Pune international airport after Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj was first proposed by the Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol. On August 22, Murlidhar Mohol met the State Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and held a detailed discussion with them on the issue.

In that meeting, the Chief Minister and both the Deputy Chief Ministers promised to send this proposal to the central government soon. Finally, the state government has taken a decision on it on Monday.

After the announcement of the decision, Murlidhar Mohol thanked the state government for the decision. Mohol wrote on X, "Thank you, Mahayuti government! Thank you, Devendraji! The first step towards naming the international airport in Pune as 'Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Airport' has been taken today, and the proposal given by me has been approved at a cabinet meeting. It will now be sent to the central government for further processing."

This decision by the state government comes after the Deputy Chief Minister of the state, Devendra Fadnavis, made a big announcement in this regard at the inauguration ceremony of National Highways held in Pune two days ago. In that meeting, Fadnavis said that the renovated Lohgaon Airport in Pune will be renamed as Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Airport.

Further in the same event, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari also said that they will personally follow up about it in the centre unless they get this proposal approved by the central government.

The timing of the announcement of this decision is significant, considering the upcoming state assembly election in the state. With the announcement of this decision, the Mahayuti government expects to gain political momentum and strengthen its voter base in the state ahead of the elections.