Bangalore: State-run defence behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) will soon open its Ozar military aerodrome at Nashik in Maharashtra to civilian flights as an alternative to the congested Mumbai airport, a top official said Friday.
"As part of our foray into the civilian sector, we are developing the Ozar airport at Nashik, which is being used for flying only military aircraft," HAL chairman R.K. Tyagi told IANS at an aerospace event on the city's outskirts.
Regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has recently permitted HAL to operate its Ozar airport for both military and civil aircraft with additional facilities, including a passenger-cum-cargo terminal as an alternative to the Mumbai airport, which is getting congested.
With state-run (Air India) and private carriers using Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat as an alternative, HAL plans to leverage its proximity as Ozar is about 170 km from Mumbai while Ahmedabad is 560 km away.
08/02/13 IANS/News Track India
