PMPML Proposal to Run Buses Up to Pune Airport Terminal Rejected on Security Grounds
Viman Nagar, 15th October 2025: Air passengers using the new terminal of Pune International Airport will have to continue walking from the Aeromall area to the terminal, as the proposal by the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) to operate buses up to the terminal has been rejected citing national security concerns.
For the past few months, the roads leading to Pune Airport have been witnessing frequent traffic congestion, causing delays for passengers. Currently, private cabs and auto-rickshaws are allowed only up to the Aeromall area, while PMPML buses terminate at the square in front of Aeromall.
When PMP buses stop near the last station — Pune Airport — they cause traffic jams as there is limited space for the vehicles to turn back. Consequently, passengers are forced to walk with luggage for several hundred metres to reach the new terminal building.
To address this inconvenience, the PMPML administration had submitted a proposal seeking permission to extend bus operations up to the new terminal premises. However, this proposal has now been turned down on national security grounds.
A meeting regarding this issue was held on Tuesday, attended by Pune Airport Director Santosh Dhoke, PMPML Chairman and Managing Director Pankaj Deore, and Indian Air Force officials.
Explaining the decision, Dhoke said, “The new terminal building is located within the Indian Air Force premises. As per strict security norms, no public transport or civilian traffic will be allowed within 100 metres of the terminal. While we understand passengers’ inconvenience, national security remains our top priority.”
With this decision, the demand for direct PMPML connectivity to the terminal remains unfulfilled, leaving air passengers dependent on cabs, auto-rickshaws, or a short walk from Aeromall to the terminal building.
