Pune: Frequent flyers sought better road connectivity and public transport access at the Lohegaon airport as the AAI observed “Yatri Suvidha Diwas” at all its facilities on Monday.Passengers acknowledged that the new integrated terminal had significantly eased congestion and improved the travel experience at the Pune airport, but traffic snarls continued to plague roads leading to the facility. Illegal parking of autorickshaws and cabs, encroachments and poor traffic management remained the key concerns.Delhi-bound Shreya Nagpal said, “The entire stretch from Sunset Boulevard on Symbiosis College Road to AeroMall was choked on Sunday afternoon, largely because of long queues of cabs and private cars. I told my autorickshaw driver to drop me near AeroMall. I walked from there to the terminal. The roundabout outside the airport was chaotic. Autorickshaws were parked haphazardly despite the presence of traffic police. If this is the situation during the day, I can only imagine how bad it gets during the peak evening hours.”Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had proposed a 30-metre-wide alternative road connecting Puru Society to the Sabha Mandap plot in Nov last year. Officials said the road would help decongest the existing airport approach road. Plans were also announced to widen the Airport Road up to 509 Chowk and relocate hawkers along the stretch.Pune airport director Santosh Dhoke said the PMC was currently in the process of carrying out the proposed works.Business executive Neeraj Patalkar said the long-pending infrastructure upgrades should have been completed by now. “The stretch between 509 Chowk and Weikfield Chowk remains a nightmare. Sudden traffic jams create panic among passengers. During rains, the situation worsens. Nurseries and other obstructions along parts of the road can be relocated to facilitate road-widening. The PMC, airport authorities and defence authorities should have expedited these works,” the regular flyer said.“Good road infrastructure is essential,” said businessman and frequent flyer Jaideep Danadia. “Last year, I was stuck on Airport Road for nearly 40 minutes after traffic was halted for a VIP movement. Pune has expanded rapidly and the airport is now at the heart of the city. Authorities must focus on ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for travellers.”Baner’s Pravar Arora said access to public transport remained inconsistent at the airport. “Earlier, PMPML buses entered the airport premises. Now, Ramwadi Metro station is relatively close, but there is no dependable feeder bus service with a fixed timetable. Even getting a cab from AeroMall during peak travel periods is a struggle. Efficient last-mile connectivity between the airport and the Metro station is critical,” he said.Airport director Dhoke said the facility had constraints because it was a defence airbase. “We cannot let buses enter the airport premises. They need to be at least 100 metres away from the facility as per the regulations. The AeroMall was constructed with the objective to help passengers,” he said.
