Pune's Power Grid Gets Rs 291 Crore Upgrade as Airport Clears 235 Daily Flights
Pune's infrastructure profile strengthened on two fronts this week: Maharashtra's transmission planning body approved a Rs 291.95 crore overhaul of the city's high-voltage electricity network, sanctioning three new substations in fast-growing neighbourhoods, while Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol confirmed that fresh coordination with the Indian Air Force has unlocked enough runway slots to raise Pune Airport's authorised daily flight movements to 235. Together the approvals reflect sustained institutional confidence in Pune's expansion as both a technology corridor and a regional aviation hub.
🏢 Maharashtra Approves Rs 291 Crore Transmission Overhaul for Pune Ring Main Network
The Maharashtra Transmission Committee has approved a revised Rs 291.95 crore strengthening plan for the 220 kV Pune Ring Main Transmission Network, designed to keep pace with the city's rising electricity demand across its expanding IT and industrial zones. The approved scheme will add 10.206 kilometres of new 220 kV double-circuit transmission line from the Talegaon Ambi Substation to Urse, a further 11.558 kilometres of multi-circuit line from Urse to the Chinchwad-Urse corridor, and the conversion of approximately 19 kilometres of existing single-circuit lines to multi-circuit configuration. Three new substations have been sanctioned alongside the network upgrade. A Rs 175.46 crore substation at Balewadi will serve the Baner, Balewadi, and Aundh belt, where annual electricity load growth has been running above 13 percent; the facility will deploy 2x50 MVA transformers and a 5.026-kilometre connectivity link combining overhead and underground cable. A Rs 127 crore substation at Loni Kalbhor is earmarked to support the proposed 80-MVA load of the Riverview City township and surrounding areas, while a Rs 98.30 crore facility at Chinchvihire in Ahilyanagar district will relieve the heavily loaded 132 kV Rahuri Substation. The fortified network will also provide a second supply source to the 220 kV Chinchwad-I and Hinjewadi MIDC Phase-II substations, underpinning power reliability across Pune's most active technology and industrial campuses. [6]
🏢 Pune Airport Cleared for 235 Daily Flight Movements After Air Force Releases Slots
Pune Airport has been authorised to handle up to 235 flight movements per day, an increase confirmed by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol. The additional slots became available through coordination with the Indian Air Force, which shares the Pune aerodrome with civilian operations — a longstanding constraint on the airport's commercial capacity. On August 2, 2026, the airport recorded 214 aircraft movements, including 107 arrivals and 107 departures, reflecting high utilisation of the existing allocation even before the new ceiling takes effect. Pune is among India's most constrained major airports in terms of civilian capacity, with the military-civilian sharing arrangement historically limiting the number of commercial flights that can operate each day. The clearance of additional slots is expected to benefit airlines seeking to add new routes or increase flight frequencies to and from the city, which serves as a significant demand centre for both business and leisure travel. Maharashtra's aviation leadership has been pressing for expanded civilian access to Pune's runway for some time, and the latest agreement marks a meaningful step toward giving the city an airport footprint commensurate with its economic weight. Passengers and airlines should expect a broader schedule of options as carriers apply for the newly available daily movement capacity, potentially easing fare pressure on busy routes serving Pune. [8]
Sources: [6] Power Peak Digest · [8] Mid-Day