Pune is poised for a transformative leap in its transportation infrastructure in the coming year, with three major developments set to enhance connectivity and ease travel for its residents. The city can expect the commencement of the long-awaited Purandar airport, the operationalization of a renovated terminal at the existing Lohegaon airport, and a significant 75% expansion of the public bus fleet.
Revamped Lohegaon Terminal Aims for April Launch
Following the shift of all operations to the new terminal building in March 2025, the old terminal at Pune International Airport in Lohegaon has been undergoing a comprehensive renovation. Airport Director Santosh Dhoke reported that nearly 60% of the work in the arrival area is complete, with the entire project scheduled for completion by March 31, 2026.
After necessary approvals from regulatory bodies, which may take 1-1.5 months, the facility is expected to be operational by the end of April next year. The upgraded terminal will significantly boost passenger handling capacity.
The renovated old terminal will add 14 new check-in counters, taking the airport's total from 34 to 48. It will also feature an expanded security hold area equipped with three x-ray machines and introduce two additional remote boarding gates that will use bus boarding services. These additions are designed to manage sudden passenger surges and prevent overcrowding.
Purandar Airport Project Gains Momentum, Construction Eyes Q2 Start
In a major breakthrough for the stalled Purandar airport project, the district administration has secured consent from 96% of the affected farmers for land acquisition. Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi confirmed that the land survey has been completed peacefully, without any need for police intervention.
"We anticipate completing the land acquisition process within the first quarter of the next year. The actual construction of the airport is likely to commence in the second quarter," stated Dudi. He noted that most farmer conditions have been addressed, with discussions now centered on the final compensation amount per acre.
Highlighting the advantage of the chosen site, the Collector mentioned that the terrain poses minimal construction hurdles, with no major mountains to cut or river streams to divert. The solid strata should allow for rapid excavation. Once work begins, authorities are confident of delivering the new airport within three to 3.5 years.
PMPML Fleet to Balloon from 2,000 to 3,500 Buses
In a massive boost to Pune's public transport, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) is set to dramatically increase its bus fleet. Chairperson and Managing Director Pankaj Deore announced that the fleet strength will jump from the long-stagnant figure of around 2,000 buses to approximately 3,500 by April-May 2026.
This expansion will be achieved through a combination of new deliveries and the induction of waiting buses. PMPML has placed a work order for 1,000 new CNG buses with Leyland and Tata, comprising 800 twelve-meter buses and 200 nine-meter buses. The handover of these vehicles is expected around April-May.
Additionally, about 500 buses currently awaiting induction will be added to the fleet. Accounting for the scrapping of around 500 old buses, the net addition will be 1,500 buses, significantly enhancing connectivity across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Deore assured that, unlike delays experienced in other cities, no major problems in bus deliveries are anticipated for Pune.
Together, these three initiatives in aviation and ground transport mark a comprehensive push to modernize Pune's mobility ecosystem, addressing both immediate congestion issues and long-term growth needs.
