The much-anticipated new terminal building at Lohegaon airport in Pune, India, has encountered yet another setback, with the inauguration now expected to take place in mid-December or early January of the coming year. Initially scheduled for commissioning this month, the Rs475 crore project has faced repeated delays, missing four to five deadlines.
The initial delay in the project’s timeline can be attributed to pandemic-related challenges, with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) headquarters proposing additional arrangements to address congestion issues faced by major airports across the country. The need to increase the number of scanning machines near security hold areas from eight to twelve prompted modifications and the creation of additional space within the new building. Construction is currently underway, and the project is expected to be completed by November, followed by a series of test runs.
A senior airport official stated, “We aim to complete everything at once to ensure a seamless experience for flyers.”
In terms of the integration of the new building with the existing one, the official reported that the first phase is already complete, and the second phase is expected to be finished within a week. A request for the building’s inauguration has been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, and the airport authorities are eagerly awaiting a response.
Under the revised plan, the first-floor arrival area of the existing building will be merged with the new structure to serve as a security hold area. The AAI has further plans to redevelop the existing building, ultimately making both structures fully operational.
