Pune: Pune Airport's new terminal is set to open for passengers by July 15, with an expected annual traffic of over 1 crore passengers, almost ten lakh more than the old terminal.
Despite the increase in passenger volume, there will be no significant enhancement in facilities, potentially causing inconvenience to travelers. Key amenities like check-in counters, CUSS kiosks, and immigration desks will not see any increase, with only a single addition to the baggage reclaim belts. As a result, during peak seasons, long queues similar to those experienced at the old terminal are anticipated.
Initially, only two airlines—Air India and Air India Express—will operate from the new terminal, limiting passenger numbers at first. However, once T2 operates at full capacity and during peak seasons, the lack of adequate infrastructure will likely result in persistent congestion and long queues.
Comparison of Facilities:
| Facility | Old Terminal | New Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Boarding Bridges | 5 | 5 |
| Lifts | 6 | 15 |
| Escalators | 5 | 8 |
| CUTE Check-in Counters | 38 | 34 |
| CUSS Kiosks | 15 | 15 |
| Inline Baggage System | 0 | 2 |
| Immigration Desks | 20 | 20 |
| Inline X-ray Machines | 0 | 20 |
| Baggage Reclaim Belts | 4 | 5 |
| Peak Hour Passenger Capacity (per hour) | 900 | 1400 |
Ongoing Queues Expected:
Key areas such as check-in counters, immigration desks, baggage reclaim belts, CUSS kiosks, and departure gates are anticipated to remain crowded.
Although the airport administration plans to convert the arrival gate at the old terminal into a departure gate and add 15 additional check-in counters, the tender process has yet to begin. This upgrade is likely to take at least six months, overlapping with the winter season.
"The new terminal has already faced significant delays. The lack of infrastructure will result in congestion for passengers. The administration needs to prioritize enhancing facilities to avoid inconvenience," stated Dhairyashil Wandekar, an aviation expert.