The international airport project at Chakan in Pune has received all necessary clearances, with the final approval coming last Thursday. "The airport will function as an international cargo hub, while also catering to domestic passenger traffic," a Union environment department official said. "The environmental site clearance for the Chakan site was received in the middle of last week. The six other Union government clearances, needed for the project, are already in place and were acquired over the last two years.
 With all approvals in place, global bids may be invited over the next six months with a 48-month schedule thereafter for the completion of the project, provided no political impediments stall the execution of the project.
 Welcoming the decision, the chairperson of the civil aviation and railway transport sub-committee of the Maratha Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Surendrakumar Jain said that Pune's population was expected to increase from 5.5 million to over 10 million in the coming years and the existing airport facility would be hard pressed to meet the demand of the future. "We have received positive feedback from international cargo carriers like Srilankan Airlines, Lufthansa, Delta and Singapore Airlines on the international cargo hub proposed in Pune. The Chakan facility will also be a major employment generator for the local populace," Jain said.