Pune: In a bid to tackle persistent traffic congestion at the newly inaugurated terminal of Pune International Airport, authorities are set to implement a strict time restriction for private vehicles engaged in picking up or dropping off passengers. The proposed policy, likely to be rolled out within a month, will allow a maximum waiting time of 10 to 15 minutes. Vehicles overstaying this limit will incur a penalty.
The decision comes in response to recurring traffic bottlenecks, particularly during late evening hours when over a hundred vehicles often clog the approach roads to the terminal. A key concern is that many drivers reach the airport 30 to 40 minutes ahead of the scheduled passenger arrival, disregarding instructions to clear the area promptly after drop-off or pick-up.
This marks the first time such a time-bound parking regulation will be introduced at Pune Airport, aligning its operations with other major Indian airports like Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru. These airports already enforce similar time limits, with fines ranging from ₹500 to ₹1,500 for violations.
A special committee is currently finalizing the operational aspects of the time-limit policy. Once the framework is completed, the proposal will be submitted for interim clearance from the airport’s headquarters before implementation.
Despite deploying 12 traffic wardens and issuing repeated advisories, congestion remains a challenge due to non-compliance by private drivers. The upcoming time-controlled parking system aims to streamline traffic flow, minimise delays, and enhance the overall passenger experience at the new terminal.
