Reduced queues, better baggage screening: What’s in store at Pune Airport’s new terminal building

With the airport struggling to meet Pune’s growing demands, the state government and the AAI took up the project to expand the terminal building by acquiring additional land from the Indian Air Force and private landowners. At present, 30,000 passengers travel to and from Pune airport daily, including 540 international passengers.

Reduced waiting time in queues, better baggage screening

Among the new facilities at the airport is a Passenger Flow Management System (PFMS) that officials say will enable the airport to handle passenger traffic and queues in a better way. The imported system will also help authorities ensure seamless passenger flow through the boarding and arrival process.

“The system automatically tracks passenger presence at various key areas such as check-in counters, security checks, boarding gates, waiting areas and food and beverage stalls. These insights help the authorities ensure reduced queuing time,” the AAI official said.

The PFMS also helps authorities understand the way travellers move and where they spend most of their time before their flights.

The new terminal building will also have an ‘in-line baggage system’ that allows the management to ensure timely and efficient baggage screening and handling. With the system, the flyers will directly go to the check-in counters with their luggage. This will also help reduce the passenger congestion at the terminal.

Artworks to showcase Ganesh festival, forts, Ajanta caves

The interiors of the new terminal building will give a distinct Maharashtrian flavour to the visitors, officials said. The artworks adorning the walls will showcase the history of the state.

“The design and displays have been created to give the airport a feel of Maharashtra in general and Pune in particular. We have used artworks that depict the city’s iconic Ganesh festival, the hilly forts, the Ashadhi Yatra as well as the caves of Ajanta and Ellora,” the official said.

The building will have a 12-metre canopy covering the arrival and departure areas, with the provision for skylights.

No change in cargo capacity

Officials said that the recently inaugurated cargo infrastructure has not significantly enhanced the operational capacity of the system. The cargo complex was shifted to the new location as the existing one was coming in the way of the new terminal building.

“It remains an interim arrangement. However, the new structure has proper systems for docking and parking and provides better facilities than earlier. We have a plan for a new cargo terminal,” said the official.

The complex has a capacity to handle 37,000 MT of domestic cargo and 7,000 MT of international cargo. It has been built on 1.76 acres and can handle a diverse range of goods, from perishables to auto equipment and medicines.

Officials said that the new terminal building will be able to serve Pune city for a few years, at least until the city’s requirement touches its capacity of about 12 million passengers a year.

A timeline of the project