The much-needed expansion of Pune airport's aircraft parking capacity has hit a significant roadblock, pushing the project's completion timeline beyond a year. The delay stems from the pending formal transfer of 13 acres of land from the Indian Air Force (IAF) to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), a process that has missed its initial deadline.
Land Transfer Process Behind Schedule
Pune airport director Santosh Dhoke confirmed to the Times of India that the formal land handover is now expected by the end of January. This is a shift from the earlier October deadline indicated by the minister of state for civil aviation, Murlidhar Mohol. The airport operates within the extensive confines of an IAF base, which spans over 2,300 acres and houses Sukhoi MK-I fighter jet squadrons.
"We have written a letter to the IAF regarding the same. The IAF has appointed a board of officers for this purpose, and they will be initiating the final process regarding the transfer of land," Dhoke stated. The proposal for the five new parking bays and three remote bays was first announced in December last year.
Construction Awaits Final Nod
As part of the pre-agreed conditions, the AAI has already completed constructing the required office infrastructure for the IAF on designated land parcels. However, the actual construction work for the new bays can only begin after the land is officially transferred.
"Once the land transfer happens, the planning directorate of the AAI will review the same, and then tenders for the construction of additional bays will be floated. This process can take around six to seven months or more before tenders are awarded and the work begins," Director Dhoke explained. This sequence of events implies that passengers should not expect the new facilities to be operational anytime soon.
Operational Strain and Expert Calls for Action
The current infrastructure constraint is already affecting daily operations at the airport. With only 10 existing parking bays, the facility has faced disruptions. A source close to Minister Mohol acknowledged delays related to documentation and infrastructure but assured that steps would be expedited post-transfer.
The recent nationwide IndiGo disruption starkly highlighted this limitation. Several flights were diverted from Pune as all bays were occupied by grounded aircraft, causing passenger inconvenience. In one specific instance, a Kolkata-Pune IndiGo flight was delayed by two hours due to concerns about an aircraft occupying a bay for too long. Before the disruption, the airport handled over 200 flight movements daily, a number that has now settled around 194–198.
Aviation experts are urging authorities to speed up the process. Deepak Shastri, an aviation expert, emphasized, "Airport authorities, in coordination with the IAF and the ministry of civil aviation, must ensure there are no further delays. Infrastructure constraints need to be addressed despite the airport's overall performance." The call is clear: expediting this expansion is crucial for Pune's growing air traffic and to prevent future passenger woes.
