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Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Lucknow airport set for runway expansion, more int'l flights
LUCKNOW Lucknow's Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (CCSIA) is set to undergo a runway expansion, increasing its length from 2744 metres to 3500 metres. Once complete, the extended runway will make it possible to launch direct flights from Lucknow to the US and Europe, a long-standing public demand. Currently, Lucknow offers direct international flights to 11 destinations — including Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. (File Photo) This upgrade is essential to accommodate large, fuel-laden wide-body aircraft capable of flying non-stop to distant global destinations. The move aims to enable non-stop long-haul international flights, especially to destinations in America and Europe, which currently require passengers to connect via Delhi, Mumbai, or other metro airports. Currently, Lucknow offers direct international flights to 11 destinations — including Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. The airport administration's long-pending proposal to extend the runway has received in-principle approval from the government. The district magistrate has now sought detailed land records from the airport authorities to kickstart the land acquisition process. Once the necessary 53 acres of land is acquired, the existing runway will be extended by 700 metres. District magistrate Vishak G said: 'I have sought all the Gata-wise land records from the airport administration so that the process of land acquisition could be completed at the earliest. The airport expansion is an important process for the state capital.' If acquisition is completed and construction begins on schedule in the next three months, the work on expansion could start after that and Lucknow could soon join India's limited list of cities capable of handling non-stop, intercontinental flights. According to the airport administration, the expansion isn't just about longer flights — it's about safer and more efficient aviation. A longer runway provides a greater safety margin for pilots during take-off and landing, especially during adverse weather or in fully loaded aircraft. According to aviation experts, once the extension is complete, ultra-long-haul wide-body aircraft like the Airbus A380, Boeing 747-8, Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350 will be able to operate directly from Lucknow. The runway extension project has already received clearance from the environmental committee and work has begun on clearing 150 metres of space on either side of the runway. The land acquisition will cover Raheemabad, Mohammadpur Bhaktikhera, Gadaura and other nearby villages in the Sarojini Nagar area. Some delays have occurred due to resistance from local landowners, but district officials confirm that the process is now moving forward in coordination with airport authorities. BENEFITS Direct flights to America and Europe. Significant time and cost savings by avoiding multi-stop journeys. Greater accessibility for NRIs, students, medical travellers, and exporters. Boost to tourism, investment and enhanced cargo capacity in central UP.
News18
16 hours ago
- News18
Coldplay Song To SRK's ‘Josh', This ‘Goa-Like' Part Of Mumbai Region Is A Popular Shooting Spot
Last Updated: Vasai Fort was built by the Portuguese on the North West Coast of India during the 16th and 17th centuries. Just a few kilometers from Mumbai lies a destination that has become a favourite among Bollywood and global artists. The Vasai Fort, often compared to Goa for its old Portuguese charm, is more than just a scenic backdrop. From Coldplay's Hymn for the Weekend to Shah Rukh Khan's Josh, this centuries-old fort has been featured in many films and music videos. But apart from its screen presence, Vasai Fort has a rich past as there was a time when it was considered more important than Mumbai itself. We will also take a look at how you can reach the fort, if there is any entry fee and the best time to visit. History Vasai Fort, also known as Bassein Fort, was built by the Portuguese in in the North West Coast of India during the 16th and 17th centuries and became one of their most important strongholds on the west coast. The inner fort, called the Citadel of Saint or Bale Killa, was constructed in 1535 to guard the province. Surrounded by the Arabian Sea, Ulhas River and Vaitarna River, its location made it tough to breach. In 1736, the fort was captured by the Marathas under Chimaji Appa, younger brother of the famous Maratha Empire builder Peshwa Baji Rao. What now stands as ruins once housed a town with churches, colleges, libraries, hospitalsand markets. There were even fields where crops were grown within the fort's boundary. Centuries ago, when Mumbai was just a collection of seven islands, Vasai was already a thriving centre. Under Portuguese rule, it flourished with trade, culture and architecture. Its influence extended beyond India reaching as far as Pakistan, Oman and other parts of the Middle East. This suburb in Maharashtra's Palghar district was once the regional headquarters of the Portuguese, second in importance only to Goa. With a 4.5-km-long wall, 11 bastions, water tanks and granaries, it was a fully functional city protected by natural and man-made defences. Getting There, Best Time To Visit And Entry Info How can you reach Vasai Fort? By air: The nearest airport is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai which is about a two-hour drive from the fort. It operates regular flights to and from major Indian cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Jaipur and Hyderabad. By train: The cheapest and fastest way to reach Vasai from Mumbai is by local train. You can board a train from major stations like Churchgate, Dadar, Bandra, Andheri or Borivali and get down at Vasai Road station. The journey takes about an hour and costs just Rs 20–30 per person. From Vasai Road, the fort is around 10 km away and can be easily reached by auto-rickshaw or local bus. By road: If you are travelling by road, you can either drive or take a bus to Vasai. Buses are available from major terminals like Mumbai Central, Dadar or Borivali and cost around Rs 100–150 and take roughly two hours. From the Vasai bus depot, the fort is about 8 km away and easily accessible by auto-rickshaw or local bus. If you are driving or booking a cab, the journey via Western Express Highway or NH 8 takes about 1.5 hours. You will find parking space near the fort. Is there an entry fee? No, entry to Vasai Fort is free. When is the best time to visit? The fort is open throughout the day generally from 4 AM to 11 PM. The ideal time to visit is between November and March when the weather is pleasant enough to explore the fort on foot. The charm of Vasai Fort has drawn filmmakers and artists for decades. Shah Rukh Khan's Josh and Ram Gopal Verma's Aag were filmed here along with Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, Khamoshi and more. Internationally, it grabbed attention when British band Coldplay shot parts of Hymn for the Weekend here. The video, featuring Beyoncé and Sonam Kapoor, showED the fort's rustic beauty. Popular Bollywood tracks like Kambakkht Ishq from Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya and Poster Lagwa Do from Luka Chuppi have also been filmed here. view comments Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: August 02, 2025, 08:30 IST News viral Coldplay Song To SRK's 'Josh', This 'Goa-Like' Part Of Mumbai Region Is A Popular Shooting Spot Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Entry into Europe marks beginning of a new chapter for IndiGo, says CEO Pieter Elbers
Advt IndiGo's own widebodies Advt Unfortunate quarter By , ETInfra NEW DELHI: For IndiGo 2025 will be marked as the year from when the country's largest airline's long-haul expansion started to take shape. While the airline had started operating to Istanbul utilising leased widebody Boeing 777 aircraft from Turkish Airlines on Delhi-Istanbul route from February of 2023, the experiences and services on those flights did not have much to write home then, the geopolitical fallout between India and Turkey has ensured that the damp lease agreement of Boeing 777 from Turkish Airlines comes to an end. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has dictated IndiGo to terminate the Boeing damp lease agreement by August July, the airline inaugurated its first direct long-haul service connecting Mumbai to Manchester as well as Amsterdam, which the airline's Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers described as a moment of transition from a successful regional carrier to one with growing global relevance.'Touching down in Europe is a huge, huge thing for us,' said Elbers in a post-earnings conference call with analysts on Wednesday. Earlier in 2025, the airline executed a damp lease agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways for operating widebody Boeing 787-9 aircraft.'We have already inducted one widebody aircraft which is currently flying from Mumbai to Amsterdam and Manchester…we will be inducting the remaining five aircraft (damp lease from Norse Atlantic) during this financial year,' said Elbers.'It is much more than just two new destinations in Europe for us. It marks the start of a very new chapter in the book of Indigo.' he added. The airline will be launching new services to London and Copenhagen in the coming 2025, the next pivotal year for IndiGo will be 2027, the year from when it will start taking deliveries of its own widebody Airbus A350 aircraft. The airline signed an agreement for the purchase of 60 firm Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with the first 30 expected to be delivered between 2027 and 2032.'These widebodies will give us the reach, flexibility and scale to tap into the unserved global routes and position us as the preferred airline for long-haul journeys,' said to Airbus, the A350 is the world's most modern and efficient widebody aircraft in the 300-410 seater category with a clean sheet design including state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering efficiency and 2027, the damp lease agreement with Norse Atlantic for six widebody aircraft is expected to ensure immediate capacity requirement for IndiGo's long-haul the exuberance of starting its long-haul chapter, the airline experienced an unsavoury Apr-Jun quarter with the bottomline taking a hit due to challenges posed by closure of Pakistani airspace and fallout from the crash of Air India's flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad on June 12.'The quarter started on a strong note but was later shaped by significant external challenges, geopolitical tensions and airspace restrictions, leading to increased block times on certain routes and an increase in cancellations across several key air corridors,' said Elbers.'In June, as the booking, and passenger cancellations were beginning to normalise, we had a tragic (Air India) AI171 accident. This led to a caution in travel sentiment, particularly on the international side and further conflict in the Middle East region led to airspace closures from mid June, which in turn led to cancellation of over 100 flights for a period of two days,' he the consolidated net profit for the airline in the quarter declined 20.2 per cent year-on-year to ₹2,176 crore, consolidated revenue from operations rose 4.7% per cent year-on-year to ₹20,496 of June end, the airline had a fleet of 416 aircraft and as per the management the airline's carrying capacity will further increase in the Jul-Sep quarter.
