~~ FOUNDATION STONE LAID FOR

SHIRDI AIRPORT ~~
Friday 27th Aug`2010

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok

Chavan today laid the Foundation Stone for
the Airport in Shirdi`Ahmednagar,
Maharashtra.
Over 30,000 devotees visit the Saibaba
temple everyday and on Thursdays and
Sundays,
the number goes up to 70,000 whilst the
shrine sees around 150,000 people on
Diwali and New Year’s Day.
Improving the infrastructure of this
pilgrimage centre is expected to go a long
way in making travel more convenient for
visitors.
The Rs.2.6 billion Airport is expected to be
operational by November 2011.
A 280-acre site has been chosen for the
airport, located at Kakdi Village, 15 kms
from the Shrine.
Chavan said that around 2,000 devotees
are likely to take a flight to Shirdi daily
and several airlines have already expressed
interest in catering to them.

Ownership of the Airport will be vested in

the "Shri Saibaba Airport Charitable Trust"
to be formed soon with the chief minister
as its chairman.