In a recent incident at Pune Airport, a passenger arriving from Delhi was charged ₹225 for pickup at Aero Mall, sparking criticism and raising questions about the overall mismanagement and confusion at the Aero Mall pickup and drop-off point.
Chetan A, the passenger, shared his experience on social media, stating that the cab charged ₹225 for a pickup that took merely 1 minute. Comparing it to Delhi Airport, where passengers are given a 3-minute grace period, the incident has drawn attention to the challenges faced by travelers at Pune Airport.
Since the introduction of private taxis for pickups and drop-offs at the Aero Mall parking lot, travelers have consistently raised concerns about the lack of amenities, lengthy wait times, and confusion in the area. Aero Mall, a ₹120 crore multi-facility hub opened in November 2022, was expected to enhance the passenger experience but has seemingly added to the challenges.
The passenger-friendly image of Pune Airport has taken a hit, with complaints about conflicting directions, poor visibility, and traffic jams due to the convergence of incoming and outgoing cars.
A senior Pune Airport official clarified that Aero Mall does not impose exorbitant fees for parking and taxi halting. Normal vehicles are charged ₹60 for two hours of parking, and commercial vehicles like Ola and Uber pay ₹40 for pickup. The official stated that they will investigate the specific incident to understand why the cab charged such a substantial amount.
