Nagpur: MahaMetro has proposed a revamped feeder bus service linking Nagpur airport terminal directly with Airport Metro Station, with buses to be positioned closer to the terminal and their movements aligned with flight arrivals.MahaMetro officials told TOI that the proposal is under consideration by GMR Nagpur International Airport Limited (GNAIL) after two rounds of discussions with MahaMetro. If approved, the service will offer passengers a public transport option soon after they exit the terminal.MahaMetro director (strategic planning) Anil Kumar Kokate is spearheading the initiative, with the multimodal integration (MMI) team working on the plan. Joint general manager (MMI) Mahesh Morone, who recently visited the TOI office, said the proposal addresses a key weakness of the earlier feeder service operated by NMC.“The NMC-operated bus was stationed near the dome/main circle area and ran at around 15-minute intervals. By the time passengers walked out with their luggage, prepaid taxis, app-based cabs and other private vehicles closer to the terminal had already picked up most potential users,” he said.Poor patronage eventually led to the service being discontinued.Under the revised plan, the feeder bus would wait near the departure side, around 120 metres from the arrival gate. Officials said airport security protocols do not allow vehicles to remain within around 100 metres of the arrival area, except permitted vehicles such as VIP convoys and staff vehicles.Once a flight lands, the bus would move towards the arrival side, pick up passengers and take them directly to Airport Metro Station. The aim is to make the service visible and available where passengers decide on their onward mode of transport.The proposal comes amid low utilisation of Airport Metro Station. Officials said ridership remains in the hundreds on several days and occasionally crosses 1,000.GNAIL is examining the proposal in view of security protocols and other operational requirements. The modalities of the service will be finalised if the plan is approved.A GNAIL official told TOI the proposal was still under review, with discussions on various operational aspects underway.
