Pune: As airports across the country, including Pune, continue to hold events under the “Yatri Seva Abhiyan” until Oct 10, aviation experts have urged Union minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol to convene a meeting of Pune Airport Advisory Committee (AAC), which has been pending for nearly a year.The last AAC meeting was held in April last year, despite norms requiring such meetings to be held every six months. It discussed measures to prevent unusual bird activity and improve garbage management around the airport following repeated sightings of birds and stray animals near the runway. A fully grown male leopard was spotted near the runway later that same night. The animal was captured eight months later.“The meeting is slated shortly and will be held soon,” Mohol told TOI.Sources said the meeting is likely to be held after the Ganapati festival or early next month.AAC, headed by Pune MP, brings together key stakeholders, including airline representatives, airport officials, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indian Air Force (IAF) and members of the business community. The forum is intended to discuss airport development, operational issues and passenger-related concerns that require coordination among multiple agencies.Regular flyer and IT professional Dilip Shelar said the ongoing Yatri Seva Abhiyan was a welcome initiative, but several persistent problems at Pune airport needed attention.“Traffic comes first on the list. In the evenings and during VIP movements, roads leading to the airport face major traffic problems. Authorities have also not been able to address the illegal parking of cabs, autorickshaws and private vehicles on Airport Road and New Airport Road, despite two major parking facilities, including AeroMall,” said Shelar, a Kharadi resident.Yatri Seva Abhiyan, which began on Sept 17, was inaugurated by Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu. The campaign includes events aimed at improving passenger convenience and highlighting the growth of the aviation sector.Aviation analyst Dhairyashil Vandekar said AAC meetings were particularly important for Pune because of the airport’s operational constraints.“Airport Advisory Committees at AAI airports are required to meet once every six months. Pune airport faces serious runway, land, apron, parking and operational constraints as a civil enclave within an IAF base. The AAC meeting is particularly critical as it provides an institutional mechanism to address issues requiring coordination among multiple agencies,” he said.Frequent flyer and business professional Rahul Joshi said Pune also needed more international connections and progress on the long-pending runway extension project.“Garbage management near the airport remains poor, inviting stray dogs into the terminal area and even onto the runway. Despite claims that the AAI and Pune civic body are working on the issue, the situation has not improved much. Traffic has always been a problem. While things inside the terminal have improved, there needs to be all-round development,” said Joshi, a Punawale resident.Businessman and AAC member Sudhir Mehta said several issues needed to be discussed.“Issues such as runway expansion, removal of encroachments, widening of access roads, increasing daytime flight slots through coordination with the Air Force and making proper parking arrangements for taxis should be discussed. I have not received any official communication regarding the meeting so far,” he said.
