Pune airport will impose a Rs 500 fine on vehicles that remain on its premises for more than 15 minutes while picking up or dropping off passengers, with strict enforcement scheduled to begin in December after a month-long awareness drive.
The rule will be implemented using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras installed across the airport. The cameras will record vehicle registration numbers along with entry and exit timings. Vehicles that exceed the permitted period will not be allowed to leave until the penalty is paid, according to information reported by Punekar News.
YS Rajput, vice-president of AeroMall, said motorists would be warned throughout November and would not be fined during the awareness period. Two screens are also expected to be installed in the departure area by next week to display images of vehicles that overstay the permitted duration.
Airport authorities are introducing the system to address congestion caused by vehicles waiting for extended periods near the arrival and departure areas. Motorists often occupy terminal approach roads while passengers complete check-in and security procedures or wait for incoming flights to land.
Pune airport handles around 15,000 arriving passengers and 15,000 departing passengers each day. Private vehicles frequently queue along Airport Road and New Airport Road, particularly during evening peak hours, adding pressure to roads leading to the terminal.
Rajput said the 15-minute window was sufficient for passenger pick-up and drop-off. Motorists who need to wait longer have been advised to use AeroMall’s designated parking facility instead of remaining in the terminal approach areas.
The enforcement mechanism will make the airport’s short-stay limit dependent on recorded entry and exit times rather than manual monitoring. It will also shift the immediate responsibility for managing waiting vehicles towards the designated parking facility for longer stays.
Regular flyers have called for the rule to be applied uniformly, including to vehicles bearing government registration plates. They alleged that such vehicles often remain parked near the terminal for extended periods. The awareness period will continue through November, with fines scheduled to start from December.
