Q: Pune is in the process of major transformation. You have been leading the city towards development. On this backdrop how do you reminisce Pune of the olden days?

Suresh Kalmadi : Am a proud citizen of this wonderful city since my birth. I did my schooling at St.Vincent High School and studied at Fergusson college. I went on to join the prestigious National Defence Academy at Khadkwasla and eventually became a Pilot with the Indian Air Force. During all these times, Pune was a quite a laid back city, scarcely populated. I have also witnessed the 1961 Panshet floods which changed Pune for the firs time.

Q: What are your career achievements In the Indian Air Force?

Suresh Kalmadi : I joined the Indian Air Force as Pilot. Prior to that I had completed training at Jodhpur and Allahabad Air Force Flying Colleges. I had taken part in the 1965 and 1971 wars and have eight medals to my credit for outstanding service.

Q: How then did you turn towards politics?

Suresh Kalmadi : I was totally inspired by my father, Late Dr. Shamrao Kalmadi. He practiced medicine with a humanitarian approach. He would treat poor patients for free at his Deccan Gymkhana dispensary and took a personal interest in each patient’s welfare. He started some education institutions. I learnt from him that I must do something for society and am grateful to him for the inspiration. This urge to serve the people brought me to politics.

Q: You are into parliamentary politics for a long time. During this period, you are stationed at Delhi. How do you manage to keep alive your emotional bond with Pune?

Suresh Kalmadi : I am a Puneri at heart. My emotional bond with the city is strong. The city is my karmabhoomi. Wherever I am in the world , I am always thinking of Pune. The city has achieved glory worldwide, but I genuinely feel that lot more has to be done. I have strived to work for its all-round development.

Q: What are your memorable moments as the Union Minister of State for Railways?

Suresh Kalmadi : When I was appointed as the State Minister for Railways, the job was quite exciting. I was the only State Minister to have presented the Railway Budget in the Parliament. I renamed the Victoria Station at Mumbai as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and that is a memorable moment for me. The renovation and grooming of Pune, Khadki and Shivajinagar stations, increase in the number of Pune–Lonavala and Pune–Daund trains, the launch of Pune– Mumbai Shatabdi Express and the start of Pune-Kokata Aazad Hind Express for better connectivity are a few major developments that are made. In my short stint of less than one year I went round the country and could start lot of new works.

Q: Just like you worked for a better railway connectivity for Pune, you have also strived for the city’s Global Connect. Could you share your thoughts on this?

Suresh Kalmadi : I strived for the upgradation of the Pune Airport to international standards. I knew that the city was emerging as a Global Hot Spot and needs an International Airport. Fortunately, my attempts bore fruit, the Pune Airport became an international airport four years ago. The first international flights were to Singapore and Dubai and now to Frankfurt. I am trying to get a flight started to Hajj too. As Chairman of the Pune Airport Authority, I had started the process for works like for acquisition of more land for the runway and renovation of the airport, We need safer instrument landing systems and stops are on in this direction.

Q: Now Pune is indeed an international city. But even before this you had brought it on the global map. Could you tell us how?

Suresh Kalmadi : With an aim to promote Pune on the global map, I started the Pune International Marathon 23 years ago, the first International Marathon in India. Also to showcase the cultural heritage of Pune I took inspiration from Ganeshutsav started by Lokmanya Tilak and started the Pune Festival which is on for over twenty years now. The Pune International Film Festival has also completed six years now and is much awaited to sought after film festivals of the country. Punekars get a fair representation on global level, thanks to all these project. Its easy to start a projects but to successfully carry it forward is a challenge. The credit goes to aware Pune citizens for their constant patronage to all these projects.

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