Maharashtra clears first phase of Rs 65 crore Baramati airstrip upgrade, months after Ajit Pawar crash

Pune, October 30, 2026: Nearly nine months after the plane crash at the Baramati airstrip that killed former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, the state government on Thursday approved the first phase of a Rs 65 crore upgrade of the airstrip. The upgrade aims to improve runway safety and airport infrastructure.

The crash took place on January 28. It raised questions about the airstrip's safety infrastructure and drew public attention to it. The state government then announced several improvements in its budget, including facilities for night landing. The latest approval has been described as the first step towards carrying out the proposed improvements.

The work will be carried out by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company Limited (MADC). It includes resurfacing of the runway, development of the runway safety area, ground grading and construction of a boundary wall. An air traffic control tower and a prefabricated technical block will also be built.

The plan also includes a fire station, an emergency room and a CCTV surveillance network.

MADC Vice Chairman and Managing Director Deepak Kapoor said that, to move the project forward quickly, the company will issue a tender on Friday to appoint a consultant.