New road to reduce traffic jam at Pune airport premises

Pune: Entering the Pune airport premises during peak hours becomes quite impossible due to heavy traffic jam in front of the gate connecting the VIP road to 509 chowk. Several times, passengers are forced to leave the vehicles to board the flights on time. The airlines always request  passengers to reach on time, as they are also aware of the severity of the traffic problem.The airport authority is working on a new plan in collaboration with city traffic police to decongest the road and help fliers reach airport on time.

The Pune Airport Authority had requested the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to develop an optional road to decongest the road in front of the airport. Last year, Member of Parliament Anil Shirole initiated the project. Now, the PMC is developing the road behind parking number two which connects the VIP road.

“A road is under construction behind parking number two, which connects the VIP road. The road is about 12 metre in width and it will open soon. We are trying to decongest the traffic. It will help to reduce the traffic jam. In future, the exit will be segregated,” said Ajay Kumar, Director of Pune airport.

Passenger traffic from the Pune airport is growing exponentially. This has resulted in severe traffic jams during peak hours. From social media platforms, the officials of the airport often receive various complaints from flyers regarding traffic jams on the road leading to the departure terminal of the airport.

Ganpat Salunkhe, executive engineer of road department of PMC, said, “The PMC has started work of concreting near the parking area of the airport. The road length is 20 metre and it is a two-way road. The civic body has allotted Rs 5 crore for road. We have completed 50 per cent work of road and it will be completed in March. Vehicles from out gate of airport will use this road. The road will connect to road near Symbiosis College.”