Dr. Praveen Gedam, the chairman and divisional commissioner of the development authority, has mandated that the work be finalized before March 2027, according to an official statement. The airport, located about 20 kilometers from Nashik in the Ozar area, is managed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
The green light was given during a meeting of the Authority, which approved the creation of a new integrated terminal building along with related works, with an estimated investment of ₹556 crore. A Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and HAL will be established to facilitate this initiative. Once completed, the airport’s capacity to handle passengers will rise from 300 to 1,000 per hour.
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Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, addressing the public on November 20, declared that development projects worth over ₹20,000 crore have been approved for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, investments he believes will turn Nashik into a significant tourism and pilgrimage destination. He promised transparency in all executions, following the ‘bhoomipujan’ for various projects, asserting that funding wouldn’t be an issue for a festival that occurs once every 12 years.
“We aim for all these projects to last at least 25 years and transform the character of Nashik and Trimbakeshwar. This will position Nashik as a premier center for tourism and pilgrimage. The state government will also provide fair compensation for land acquired for these endeavors,” Fadnavis stated at a rally after the ceremony.
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He emphasized the uniqueness of the forthcoming Kumbh, highlighting, “This Kumbh is special as it coincides with ‘Trikhand Yog’ after 75 years. Thus, it will extend for 28 months, starting from October 31, 2026, until July 24, 2028. People from around the globe attended Prayagraj Kumbh. Nashik Kumbh is a part of this tradition, but unlike Prayagraj, which occupies 15,000 hectares along the Ganga, we have only 500 acres in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar.”
The Chief Minister mentioned that both the Union and state governments have already allocated ₹20,000 crore for various projects, with groundbreaking ceremonies held on Thursday for initiatives totaling ₹5,757 crore. This includes ₹2,270 crore in Public Works Department projects and ₹3,338 crore under the Nashik Municipal Corporation. The inauguration of the state’s largest Zilla Parishad building was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Minister Girish Mahajan—who oversees Kumbh preparations—and senior officials.
Fadnavis introduced a ‘Digital Kumbh’ initiative aimed at modernizing the event via digital platforms. Information will be disseminated digitally, and artificial intelligence will be utilized for crowd management and maintaining public order, he noted.
During his visit, the Chief Minister examined the Ramkund area in Panchavati and evaluated plans for the proposed ₹99.14 crore Ramkal Path project, which aims to enhance visitor amenities and preserve heritage sites. Officials indicated that the initiative will highlight the cultural and historical significance of landmarks such as Ramkund, Seeta Gumpha, Kalaram Temple, and Ram Laxman Gumpha.
Addressing the assembly, Deputy CM Shinde asserted that the Simhastha Kumbh Mela would transcend its religious connotations, helping to prominently position India on the global spiritual map. He emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring systematic and high-quality preparations.
