Cabs and autos being fined Rs. 500 for picking up passengers from Pune airport’s new terminal

If Cab and autorickshaw drivers pick up passengers from new terminal building of the Pune airport, they will be fined Rs 500. “Pickups can happen only from the AeroMall,” Pune airport director Santosh Dhoke said on Wednesday.

Sources said that at the old terminal also, there was a provision of fine for public transport vehicles picking up passengers. “There are boom barriers in front of all exits from the building, including on the road connecting Vimannagar and Pune-Ahmednagar Road. There are operators keeping an eye on cabs exiting the airport. If there are passengers inside the vehicles, fines are slapped on drivers,” an official at the new terminal building said.

Since the opening of the new terminal on Sunday, 25 cab drivers have been fined for picking up passengers from inside the new building. Airport officials said that boom barriers have been made operational in front of all gates, and vehicles with yellow number plates were being checked.

“Presently, cabs and autorickshaws are not allowed to drop passengers inside the new terminal but they will be allowed to do so soon. The entry and exit system for vehicles will be the same as was prevalent in the old terminal,” Pune airport director Santosh Dhoke said.

Passengers find it convenient to get rickshaws and taxis directly from the airport premises rather than going to the Aeromall, which is farther from the new terminal. Many passengers have expressed that fining rickshaws and taxis is unreasonable.

The director said that pickups can happen from the AeroMall and people should be aware of the same. “Soon the number of flights will increase but the rule needs to be followed strictly in order to ensure order in the new building.

Two e-buses and golf carts have been made available to transport passengers from the new terminal to Aeromall. Both services are free for passengers, added Santosh Dhoke.

Meanwhile, with sudden rain hitting the city, water was found to be leaking near the arrival area of the old building, resulting in many flyers getting wet. “I am dressed for a conference and was to go straight from the airport to the venue and here I am all wet. Is this an airport or a bus stand” a flyer said.

Dhoke said that the old building would be shut down soon. “We are not carrying out renovation work right now as the building still has many aircraft and passenger movements and that might get disturbed. The building will shut down very soon following which full renovation work will start,” he said.

An official with the airport said that everything would be shifted from the old building to the new building by August. “From August 15, the old building is expected to close down permanently for a full year and the new building will be fully operational,” the official said.