Pune: The unresolved issues surrounding Pune Airport's new terminal and the accident-affected aircraft parked at the site have been brought to the attention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Member of Parliament from Pune Loksabha constituency, Murlidhar Mohol, upon assuming his duties as Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation, held a detailed meeting with Shah to discuss these critical concerns.
Key points discussed were expediting the operationalization of the new terminal, removal of the accident-affected aircraft from the parking bay, and securing National Disaster Management funds for the Pune Municipal Corporation.
Mohol announced that plans are in motion to open the new terminal shortly, with a deployment of 241 CISF personnel on the agenda. The deployment order is currently pending with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Discussions with Shah led to a positive decision, indicating that the new terminal will soon commence operations to serve passengers.
The new terminal was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 8. Despite three months passing since the inauguration, it has not yet been opened for passengers, leading to frustration among Pune residents. The issue was highlighted in Pune media which reported the inconvenience faced by passengers due to the closure of parking bay number 1. Responding to this, Mohol discussed the matter with Shah, who assured prompt resolution.
Mohol also stated that the issue of Air India aircraft parked at the airport bay was also raised. "The aircraft is expected to take additional time for repairs. Discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have resulted in the temporary solution of moving the aircraft to a defense area," said Mohol. The Air India aircraft bound for Delhi was involved in an accident on May 16 at Pune Airport and has since been parked in the bay, awaiting inspection by the DGCA. This has disrupted the schedules of other flights due to the unavailability of the bay.
Funds from the National Disaster Management Authority, previously pending, will be allocated to various projects across Pune to manage flood situations. Mohol stressed the need for immediate release of these funds for effective planning and flood control in the city. Shah responded positively, assuring that the funds would be disbursed promptly.