The idea was to re-do the runway to make it fit for the next 15 years, an IAF official said, adding that their suggestion was ignored.

"There is no other option but to resurface the entire runway, measuring 8,300 feet, which would result in temporary closure of all air traffic," an IAF official from the South-Western Air Command (Swac) said.

The official said that during the period, the lengthening of the runway to 10,500 feet would also done.

Shastri had earlier said that the lengthening of the 8,300-foot runway was essential for larger aircraft for landing and take-off. The Pune district administration has already issued a notification to acquire at least 20 hectares of land for the proposed runway extension along the airport's western side.

"Currently, only short-wing civil aircraft operate from Lohegaon, but the plan is to lengthen the runway to 10,500 feet to accommodate larger aircraft such as Airbus A-340s and
Boeing-747s," Shastri said.

O f f i c i a l s from domestic airliners said that while the closure or curb on air traffic would have a negative impact, there was no option but to adhere to the restrictions that may be imposed.

OPTIONS

• Temporarily relocate the IAF squadrons of Sukhoi 30 MKIs and Jaguars to another base and restrict movement of civilian aircraft

• Close runway for a few months and complete the work

• Continue with temporary repairs on a piecemeal basis and keep the runway operational

• Kolhapur airport was closed for a few days last November for resurfacing of the runway last year. Airliners cancelled its Kolhapur-Mumbai flights. Passengers who booked for travel during that period were offered a full refund or a free rescheduling to a later date

• The Bangalore runway is unavailable for air traffic for two ours on Sunday mornings for maintenance of the runway. The work, which began in February this year, is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month

• Runway resurfacing at the London Luton airport is being carried out only at midnight after curbing air traffic, so that flight schedules are not affected.