TimesView The AAI has been given the approval to construct a new terminal building for the Pune airport, which it plans to complete by 2021. However, given that the number of flight arrivals departures at the airport has shot up from 170 six months ago to 200 now, and with the number estimated to reach 230 in two months, the construction of the new building needs to be advanced The present terminal building can hold up to 6,000 flyers at a time, which is clearly insufficient since the daily passenger traffic currently is almost 15,000 PUNE: Increasing the number of personnel handling passenger security check-in will not smoothen the process unless the overall infrastructure at the airport is improved, said the senior officials of the Central Industrial Security Force CISF ), a contingent of which mans the installation in Pune.Their message to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is clear: “We are not magicians and we can’t do miracles.”“In the late evening hours, the airport handles between 46 and 60 flight arrivals and departures. All this in just a 4-hour time period. The bunching of so many flights in a short span of time is a big problem. We cannot perform miracles. Our personnel at the airport are doing a commendable job, but the AAI must first resolve the issues pertaining to the huge rush. We are ready to provide all assistance,” said Hemendra Singh, the assistant inspector general and PRO of the CISF.Passengers, meanwhile, continue to bear the brunt in the form of very long queues at security check-in point. Recently, the two security hold areas on the ground floor of the Pune airport were merged to create a common security check area. That worsened the problem.“When the new system was being implemented, we, as well as the airlines, knew that the crowd will increase. Therefore, we had asked for at least three more x-ray scanning machines. But they were not provided to us,” a source told TOI. “Between 9.30pm and 1am, there are close to 30 flights scheduled to depart. Nearly 5,000 passengers enter the airport at that time. Moreover, if there are 30 flights departing, there are 30 others landing. So overall, nearly 60 flight movements take place within that time. We are doing whatever we can. At times, we have to open the female frisking booths for the male passengers. The winter schedule from October 30, will see 30 additional flights at the airport that is short on space and infrastructure,” he added.The late evening bunching of flights is also causing traffic jams on the approach road to the airport. “Some passengers have to walk to the airport from 509 Chowk,” revealed another source. “The airport does not have proper distribution of flights. With just five x-ray machines, it is difficult to handle the crowd. Often, airlines have to call out passengers whose flight is ready to leave. At the security check, we can’t give preferences as that will spark quarrels among passengers. However, we are trying to ensure that women and those travelling with children can get preference. The new security hold area is so close to the departure gate and it is creating problems,” he added.

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