The Maharashtra government has officially approved the renaming of Pune Airport to Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Airport. This decision was taken during a cabinet meeting on Monday, following a proposal from Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol. The proposal will now be forwarded to the central government for further processing.

Taking to social media platform X, Mohol expressed his gratitude to the ruling Mahayuti government, which comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). 

He tweeted, “Thank you, Mahayuti government! Thank you, Devendraji! Today marks the first step towards renaming Pune’s international airport as 'Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Airport,' following the approval of my proposal at the cabinet meeting.”

Earlier, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had indicated that the renaming initiative originated from Mohol’s suggestion. 

He stated that after discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the proposal would be formalised. Gadkari emphasised the profound influence of the teachings of Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar on his life, highlighting his commitment to transcend religion, caste, and creed in his professional endeavours.

This renaming is set to honour the legacy of Sant Tukaram, a revered figure in Marathi literature and spirituality, known for his devotional poetry and teachings.