Pune International Airport is set to enforce a strict 12-minute waiting limit for vehicles at its terminal to ease congestion and improve passenger flow. This new rule, expected to come into effect within a week, will penalize vehicles that exceed the waiting time, with violations tracked using Number Plate Recognition (NPR) cameras. With nearly 15,000 vehicle movements daily, many drivers currently wait for extended periods to pick up arriving passengers, causing frequent traffic jams—especially during late-night peak flight hours—impacting both arrivals and departures.
To tackle this issue, the airport administration decided on Thursday to implement a ‘dwell-time’ monitoring system. Six NPR cameras will be installed at key points around the terminal to automatically scan vehicle number plates at entry and exit, calculate the duration of their stay, and identify those that overstay the 12-minute limit.Pune Airport director Santosh Dhoke explained, “We are introducing a time limit for vehicles entering the terminal area.
The proposal has been submitted, and installation of the NPR cameras has begun. Once approved, the dwell-time system will be operational. This will regulate unnecessary waiting and reduce congestion within the terminal premises.”Frequent travelers have welcomed the decision, pointing to regular delays caused by traffic snarls.
Mangesh Chaudhary, an IT professional who travels weekly from Pune, said, “During peak hours, especially late at night, it sometimes takes longer to reach the terminal entrance than the actual drop-off. A strict waiting limit will improve traffic flow and save time for genuine passengers.”Ayesha Khan, a frequent flyer in the education sector, added, “Pick-up areas are often clogged with vehicles waiting endlessly. This step will make the terminal more organised and less stressful, especially for families, senior citizens, and women travelers.”
