Rainfall Woes: Pune’s Infrastructure and Airport Mismanagement Exposed
Reported by Sumit Singh
Pune, 9th June 2024: Heavy rainfall yesterday evening wreaked havoc in Pune, leading to massive traffic jams that left commuters stranded for hours. Among those affected were travelers attempting to reach Pune Airport, many of whom faced significant delays and inconveniences.
BJP Maharashtra spokesperson Kunal Tilak took to Twitter (X) to express his frustration with the situation. He recounted his own harrowing journey, stating, “The mess that is Pune Airport. Left home at 8 pm for an 11 pm flight. At around 9:45 pm, I realized that the traffic wouldn’t allow me to reach the airport on time, and so I had to walk, run, hop on two motorbikes, and request a rickshaw to finally drop me at the airport. Major traffic congestion right from Sangamwadi, water logging, and mismanagement has resulted in this mess. It is time the defence ministry is asked hard questions as to what exactly their problem is with the development of the Pune Airport region. We have been at their mercy for too long now. Consensus should be reached between the PMC, Maharashtra Government, Defence Ministry, and Central Government. To add to the passenger woes, the DigiYatra counter at the airport was closed as well.”
Tilak described a chaotic scene at the airport, with travelers struggling to keep up with multiple gate changes. “After sprinting for a kilometer, hopping on two bikes, and taking a rickshaw, Indigo has still not started boarding. They have changed the gate three times already, and people are running here and there just to find the proper gate. DigiYatra counters are closed outside and inside, and the security check is still relaxed as it is even during the peak hours.”
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The severe weather and ensuing traffic chaos have underscored longstanding issues with the infrastructure and management. Many passengers have echoed Tilak’s calls for a coordinated effort among local and national authorities to address the persistent problems plaguing the airport and surrounding areas.
