PUNE: The ambitious plan of Pune Airport Authority of having a multi-level car parking near parking number one is yet to see the light of the day.
Almost a year has been passed now after the announcement of its construction, but there is no sign of construction. Interestingly, the authorities are still stuck in discussions of getting land for it as Airport Authority claims to have been in talks with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) while the PMC has denied receiving any such proposal. Early in October this year, Airport Authority of India (AAI) had received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the multi-level car parking and arranging for alternate parking near the airport.
“We are committed to facilitating passenger amenities. Further, we are continuously working on all passenger facilities including multi-level car parking. However, areas are being specified as we have multiple options,” said Pune Airport Director Ajay Kumar.
The airport administration has been following up the issue with the PMC to provide the plot. “We have asked the PMC to provide alternate land, which has not been handed over to us (the Airport Authority). Due to this, the construction work has not been started yet. We had made a request to hand over any optional land near the airport and then we can start the construction,” Kumar told Sakal Times.
The parking contract was awarded to city-based Pebbles Infra-Tech Private Ltd. The company will develop the multi-level car parking with integrated commercial facilities on a DBOM basis (construction-cum-licence to operate and maintain). The proposed parking facility will be of international standards with integrated commercial facilities and cover an area of 2.5 acres and provide parking facilities for 1,000 vehicles in line with the proposed expansion of terminal building with a handling capacity of 12 to 13 million.
When contacted, PMC Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Land management department) Rajendra Muthe said, “It is not our responsibility to provide land for multi-level parking to Airport Authority. We have not discussed any such proposal with Airport Authority officials so far.”
