Golf carts to ferry fliers at Pune Airport

PUNE: The Pune Airport authority will be introducing the ‘golf cart’ ride for the fliers soon. The facility, especially for senior citizens, pregnant women and specially-abled, will help fliers to reach the parking lot from the arrival area to get to their vehicles. The facility has come after recently made ‘no parking zone’ inside the premises.

“We have purchased three golf carts which will ferry round the clock inside the premises. The service will be free for fliers and senior citizens, pregnant women and the specially-abled persons will get preference. We will start this service soon as some procedures are yet to complete,” said Ajay Kumar, Director, Pune Airport.

“The cost of the three golf carts is Rs 10 lakh. When a flight arrives, the driver will be ready for picking the needy fliers and will drop them at parking number two. The officials are in the process of getting them registered and insurance etc.., to be completed before into operation. This is a new service we are going to introduce soon,” Kumar told Sakal Times.

From March 5, the Pune Airport authority has shifted out the booths for prepaid auto, commercial taxi and app-based taxi aggregators to parking no. 2. The decision taken to decongest the city side area and entry road to the airport should bring some relief to the passengers from the chaotic traffic situations that were being experienced especially during the peak hours.

The pickup zone of Ola and Uber is also shifting to the parking number 2. 

“The distance is around 150-metre from the arrival area to parking number two. We don’t want to cause inconvenience to any flier, especially senior citizens, pregnant women and specially-abled people,” said Kumar.

A Delhi-based company has provided the facility. As per the requirement of current space at Pune Airport, the authority has purchased only three, if needed, they will go for more. The concept has come from Delhi Airport where eight golf carts are ferrying passengers round the clock.