Pune: With Pune Airport’s newly built Integrated Terminal Building (NITB) now operational, focus has turned to revamping the older terminal to expand capacity and enhance services for passengers. On Monday, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, confirmed that the redevelopment project is progressing swiftly.
Speaking to the media, Mohol shared that the old terminal is being modernised to accommodate growing passenger numbers and improve overall infrastructure. Once renovations are complete, the upgraded terminal will boast 48 check-in counters, two automated boarding gates, a new departure gate, and additional ticket counters. These enhancements are expected to raise the airport’s annual passenger handling capacity to approximately 1.05 crore.
What’s Planned for the Terminal Upgrade?
The refurbishment aims to streamline passenger experience and scale up operational efficiency. Key upgrades include:
48 check-in counters
2 automated boarding gates
A modern departure gate
Additional ticketing facilities
Currently, the new terminal covers 36,000 square metres. With the old terminal’s renovation, an additional 6,000 square metres will be added to the airport’s infrastructure. The central government has allocated ₹25 crore to support the redevelopment efforts.
Mohol stated that the project has been assigned strict timelines, with a target to complete all work by the end of 2025.
Officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) noted that rising passenger footfall and the demand for better facilities made it essential to upgrade the older terminal. Once both terminals are fully functional, the airport will be better equipped to handle the increasing traffic with greater efficiency.
Runway Extension Also in Progress
In a related development, Mohol also confirmed the successful completion of the Obstacle Limitation Survey (OLS) required for the runway extension. This crucial survey assesses the airport’s capability to accommodate larger aircraft and potentially open doors to more international flight operations in the future.
