Nashik Airport Expansion Set to Accelerate Industrial Boom Ahead of Kumbh

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the expansion of Ozar Airport will play a critical role in boosting regional development and improving connectivity ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027, which is expected to draw a massive influx of devotees to Nashik.

Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of the airport expansion project, Fadnavis said the state government has allocated ₹640 crore for the upgrade. He noted that Nashik could witness an eight- to tenfold rise in the number of pilgrims during the Kumbh Mela, making enhanced transport infrastructure essential. “Air travel is no longer a luxury but an essential necessity,” the chief minister said, adding that the project would accelerate the city’s overall development.

The upgraded airport is expected to significantly increase passenger handling capacity while also strengthening connectivity for industrial and commercial activity. Fadnavis said the expansion would support Nashik’s growing role as a regional economic hub, especially as industrialisation in the district has regained momentum after a period of slowdown.

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Highlighting Nashik’s strengths in horticulture and vegetable production, the chief minister said improved cargo facilities would enable exporters to access international markets for perishable goods. He pointed to recent trade agreements with the European Union and the United States, saying the easing of restrictions would boost export-orientated industries and lead to higher outbound shipments from the region.

Fadnavis also underlined the role of the defence sector in the district’s growth, noting that Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has begun large-scale production at Ozar and secured substantial orders. This, he said, is expected to generate employment and attract ancillary industries. “This is not just a bhoomipujan for an airport; along with aeroplanes, Nashik’s development will take off from here,” he said.

On broader investment trends, the chief minister said Nashik has re-emerged as an industrial investment hotspot. He cited ₹13,000 crore in investments secured for the district out of ₹55,000 crore committed to five North Maharashtra districts at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He added that infrastructure works worth ₹30,000 crore are underway to prepare the city for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, alongside efforts to rejuvenate the Godavari River and develop the Nashik Parikrama Marg.

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