In a bid to reduce the frisking time of passengers, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will add 16 new check-in counters at the New Integrated Terminal Building (NITB) at Pune International Airport. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol revealed this on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday evening.
The Pune MP stated that there are 34 check-in counters at the NITB currently, and with the addition of 16 new counters, the tally will rise to 50. The expansion will include an area of 4,000 sqm at an additional cost of ₹25 crore, and it is expected to be completed by March 2025, he stated.
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Mohol wrote, "The New Integrated Terminal Building at Pune Airport, with a peak hour capacity of 3,000 passengers, was commissioned on 14 July, 2024, and has been in operation since then. A total of 34 Check-In counters are provided in the Check-In area of NITB. To improve the travel experience of passengers at Pune Airport and to further reduce check-in/frisking time, AAI has decided to provide 16 more check-in counters and a security check area. This area will have provisions for DFMDs, X-ray machines, an Airport System integrated with NITB, and retail shops. The existing arrival hall of the Old Terminal Building will be revamped and converted to an extended departure hall of NITB, with a connecting bridge in between. Total 4000 sqm area will be added with additional cost of ₹ 25.00 Cr. The additional area will be ready and put to use by March 2025."
Meanwhile, Mohol recently met Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar and demanded that Pune International Airport be named after Sant Tukaram Maharaj.
"The state government is positive about the naming of Pune Airport, and soon this proposal will be sent to the central government. After that, a follow-up will be taken up with the central government," the MP wrote on X.
Explaining the naming process, Mohol stated that the proposal comes from the state government to the central government, which then decides on the name. "Hence, as the people's representative of Pune, I have put my demand before the state government," he added.
