Pune airport will enforce a 15-minute limit for vehicles entering the premises to drop off or pick up passengers from December, with motorists who overstay facing a Rs500 fine. Authorities will use automatic number plate recognition cameras to track entry and exit times after a month-long awareness drive during November.
Y S Rajput, vice-president of Aero Mall, said vehicle owners would be warned throughout November and would not be fined during the awareness period. “The airport authorities have notified the rule recently. No vehicle will be allowed to stay beyond the stipulated 15 minutes. No one flouting the norm will be spared,” Rajput told the Times of India.
The system will record a vehicle’s registration number and image at the entry point and capture its exit time. If the vehicle remains inside the airport premises beyond the permitted duration, the exit boom barrier will remain closed until the Rs500 fine is paid, officials said.
Two screens are expected to be installed in the departure area by next week to display images of vehicles that overstay. The measure is intended to discourage motorists from waiting near the terminal, particularly during evening peak hours when traffic regularly builds up around the airport approach roads.
Officials said some motorists wait in the departure area while relatives complete check-in and security procedures, while others arrive well before an incoming flight lands. Such vehicles occupy space near the terminal and contribute to congestion in the arrival and departure areas.
“Allowing 15 minutes to enter and exit the airport is adequate. Motorists should try to leave as soon as passengers have been dropped off or picked up. Vehicles lingering near the terminal create congestion and make the entire area chaotic,” Rajput said.
The airport handles an average of 15,000 arriving and 15,000 departing passengers daily, according to officials. During evening hours, private vehicles are often seen lined up along Airport Road and New Airport Road, adding pressure to the terminal approach network.
Regular flyers have called for the rule to be applied uniformly, including to vehicles with government registration plates. “We often see vehicles, including those bearing govt registration plates, standing in the arrival area for long periods. No one asks them to move. This creates considerable congestion, especially in the evenings. The rule should apply equally to everyone,” said Prakash Singh, a business professional and Bavdhan resident.
Passengers who need more time, including those travelling with senior citizens or people with mobility issues, have been advised to use the parking facility at Aero Mall. Officials said motorists should use designated parking rather than waiting on terminal approach roads.
The month-long warning period will continue through November, with the Rs500 penalty scheduled to take effect from December. The ANPR-based enforcement system and the planned display screens are the next operational steps announced by airport and Aero Mall authorities.
