The Pune airport is set to implement a fresh traffic plan to alleviate congestion near the terminal buildings. A newly constructed 200-metre road, connecting the Lohegaon airport to the Mhada Colony in Vimannagar, will open for traffic on July 14, offering an alternative route for commuters.
Confirming this development, an official from Pune airport stated, “The entry for departure and arrival for passengers of flights operating from the new terminal building will be through the newly constructed checkpoint gate. For departures, passengers will use the left lanes, while arrivals will follow the right lane. Traffic will then be directed from the building towards two exit points — one leading to the newly constructed Vimannagar road and the other to Symbiosis College Road.” The existing terminal building will continue to operate until all flight movements are transferred to the new terminal. From July 14, a total of 32 flights operated by Air India and Air India Express will move to the new building. Flights from other airlines will transition in phases.
An airport official elaborated, “There will be no change in the entry and exit points for passengers using the existing terminal building. To ensure smooth traffic flow, vehicles exiting the existing building will merge into the arrival lane of the new building and then proceed to either of the two exit points.” To further ease passenger movement, the airport authorities will introduce two buses to transport passengers from the arrival area of the new building to the AeroMall. “These buses will follow the normal route via New Airport Road to the mall entrance. On the return journey, they will take a U-turn at Weikfield Chowk and return to the new building via New Airport Road. Passengers can also walk 400 metres from the arrival area of the new building to the departure area of the old building, which also serves as an entrance to AeroMall,” another airport official explained.
The traffic branch of the Airport police station is on high alert, intensifying efforts against illegally parked vehicles. “No vehicle will be allowed to stand on the roadside near the airport. We have been enforcing stricter measures against such vehicles, especially from last week,” stated Police Inspector Arvind Gokule. Passengers hope for a smooth transition. Sameer Rao, a frequent flyer, expressed his concerns, “The new airport road becomes chaotic during late evening hours when police personnel are off duty. The situation worsens during rains. What arrangements have been made for heavy rain or VIP movements? The authorities should expedite the complete shift to the new building and close the old one to avoid confusion.” The new traffic plan aims to streamline operations and enhance passenger experience at Pune airport, addressing congestion issues and ensuring smoother transit.
