Latest news with #PuneInternationalAirport
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Pune airport gets 15 more flight slots, announces Union minister Murlidhar Mohol
The number of flight slots at the Pune International Airport has been increased by 15 from 220 to 235, announced Pune MP and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol Sunday. This development can pave the way for an increase in the number of flights operating from the Pune airport and bring relief to passengers. According to a press release, the increasing demand from airlines and passengers necessitated the allocation of more slots. Mohol reached out to the Air Force as the Pune airport is also a defence airbase. Acting on the request, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh issued a formal letter approving the expansion of slots between 6 am and 10:29 pm. 'Big relief for Pune flyers! With the cooperation of the IAF, 15 more civil flight slots have been added during peak hours at Pune International Airport, raising daily movements from 220 to 235. This is our dedicated step to ensure faster and smoother journeys for you. Happy Flying Punekars !' said Mohol in a post on X. Big relief for Pune flyers! ✈️ With the cooperation of the IAF, 15 more civil flight slots have been added during peak hours at Pune International Airport, raising daily movements from 220 to 235. This is our dedicated step to ensure faster and smoother journeys for you. Happy… — Murlidhar Mohol (@mohol_murlidhar) June 1, 2025 Considering the growth of the industrial, IT, and education sectors in Pune, the demand for domestic and international flights has increased. The increase in slots will provide opportunities for new flights and direct connectivity to some new cities, with an expected increase in flights to Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad. Airlines will also get an opportunity to operate flights during the morning and evening rush hours. Mohol said, 'We are trying to make an international airport at Purandar fast, but our priority is also to empower Pune International Airport at various levels. As part of this, efforts are being made to get more slots to increase the number of aircraft. Which has been successful and now the number of available slots has increased to 235. This will increase the number of flights and Pune's air connectivity will be further strengthened.'
Hindustan Times
29-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Leopard rescue op at Pune International Airport in final stage: Forest Dept.
The ongoing operation to capture the leopard that was spotted at Pune International Airport on April 28 is in its final stage, according to Tushar Chavan, deputy conservator of forests (wildlife), Pune. The officer remains optimistic about the animal's safe capture, despite a delay in the rescue operation. 'Due to security protocols, we are not in a position to share further details of the rescue operation. However, multiple efforts are being made to capture the leopard within the airport premises. The operation is nearing completion and we believe that we will capture the leopard in the next two days,' Chavan said. A source informed Hindustan Times that the team has managed to restrict the movement of the leopard by cordoning off the area and that it hopes to capture the animal soon. On April 28, a fully-grown male leopard was spotted at Pune International Airport (part of an airbase) at about 7 am after which it was sighted again at about 8 pm, resting on the runway and take-off site. The Pune Airport staff alerted the forest department about the presence of the wild animal following which the forest department immediately launched a search operation. Conducted jointly by a team of forest officials and members of the RESQ Charitable Trust (NGO), three trap cameras along with two cages were set up initially. The number of trap cameras was increased to nine within a week of the rescue operation. In the meantime, flight operations for both civilian and Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft remained unaffected. Earlier, N R Praveen, chief conservator of forests, Pune forest department, told Hindustan Times that the department initially installed trap cages at various locations and that the leopard entered the cage/s on two occasions. On the first such occasion however, the door of the trap cage could not be closed due to lack of a pressure point. And on the second such occasion, the leopard managed to escape after grabbing the bait. 'All standard procedures are being followed during the search-and-capture operation. The department is also maintaining communication with the Air Force authorities regarding the same. We believe that the leopard has used the open drainage channel to enter the premises. The team is working on the ground and necessary actions are being taken after following the situation,' Praveen had earlier told Hindustan Times. Following the launch of 'Operation Sindoor' by the Indian Armed Forces, the search-and-rescue operation was temporarily put on hold due to military tensions between India and Pakistan. Pune International Airport being part of an airbase was on high alert and because of security protocols, access to the base was restricted. The operation resumed on May 17 and has been intensified ever since. However, the department is finding it challenging to capture the leopard due to various reasons which the officers refuse to disclose at the moment.
Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Indian Express
Passengers held with drugs at Pune airport on arrival from Bangkok; Rs 10.3-crore worth hydroponic marijuana, hashish seized
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has intercepted two passengers who arrived at the Pune International Airport from Bangkok for allegedly possessing drugs. The DRI sleuths of the Pune unit seized hydroponic marijuana and hashish worth Rs 10.3 crore from the accused passengers on Monday and arrested another suspected distributor from Mumbai, in a simultaneous follow-up. All three accused are Indian nationals from Mumbai, a DRI officer said. 'On examination of their checked-in baggage, officers recovered 11 airtight pouches containing over 9.8 kilograms of greenish lumpy substance purported to be hydroponic marijuana. The substance tested positive in a field test kit,' the officer said. Around 500g of hashish and hydroponic weed were seized from the distributor's possession, he added. 'All three persons were arrested under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985,' the officer said. Officials said that based on specific intelligence, officers of the DRI Pune, Mumbai Zonal unit intercepted the two air passengers on their arrival at the airport. This is not the first case of hydroponic marijuana seizure from Pune. In April, Pune City Police arrested a 26-year-old BBA graduate and seized a high-value strain of marijuana grown using the hydroponics technique. The police have seized over 30 grams of marijuana, which is valued at Rs 3 lakh in the illegal market. Police had recovered from him marijuana of a strain called 'OG Kush', which has been grown using the hydroponics technique. In December last year, the Anti-Narcotics cell of the Pune city police arrested three college graduates from Narhe and recovered stamps of psychedelic drug Lysergic Acid (LSD), mephedrone, and a high-quality strain of ganja grown using hydroponics, collectively totalling over Rs 17 lakh. In a major narcotics bust in August 2023, the Pune unit of DRI had seized over 101 kilograms of banned hypnotic sedative Methaqualone and had launched a probe into a suspected multi-state cartel with overseas links.
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
International flights unaffected, 9 domestic operations cancelled at Pune airport
In response to the heightened national alert status, the Pune International Airport has cancelled several flights and implemented safety and security protocols. The airport handles around 190 to 200 domestic flights daily and three international routes. Santosh Dhoke, director, Pune airport, said, 'While nine domestic flights were cancelled on Friday, the restrictions has not affected international operations.' According to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Pune, key among the new measures is the intensification of surveillance operations across all aviation-related installations within and around the airport premises. Passenger and cargo security has been significantly reinforced with thorough scrutiny of Passenger Name Records (PNR) and cargo manifests. 'For boarding, 100 per cent Secondary Ladder Point Checking (SLPC) has been made compulsory for all flights. There is also a marked increase in vehicle and personnel checks at airport approach roads, terminal entrances, and parking areas. Security at the cityside of the airport has been intensified through close coordination with police,' said Dhoke. 'Additional precautions are in place for cargo operations, including an increased percentage of explosive trace detection (ETD) checks for consignments and reinforced surveillance at cargo terminals,' he said, adding 'affected passengers are informed in advance through available channels, including airline partners, announcements, and digital platforms.'
Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Indian Express
Rs 1.5 lakh stolen from businessman's bag while travelling from Dubai to Pune
Rs 1.5 lakh in cash was stolen from the bag of a businessman during his travel from Dubai to Pune by flight in the early hours of Friday. Suyog Balkrishna Sapkal (45), resident of Ajmera Complex in Pimpri, has lodged the FIR in this case at the Vimantal police station. Senior police inspector Ajay Sankeshwari said, 'We are investigating the case. No arrest has been made yet. Thefts during Dubai to Pune air travel have been reported in the past too.' As per the FIR, the complainant Sapkal works in the tourism industry and has been residing in Pimpri for the last 35 years with his family. The FIR mentioned that he went on a business trip to Dubai on April 28, where he received Rs 1.5 lakh in cash from his friend. He had kept the money in his trolley bag. While returning to Pune, he handed the bag over to a staffer at the SpiceJet counter at Dubai International Airport, around 9.45 pm on Thursday. It further mentioned that Sapkal boarded the SpiceJet flight from Dubai at 12.05 am on Friday, and reached Pune International Airport around 4.25 am. He then collected his trolley bag, but its lock was broken. On opening the bag he found that the Rs 1.5 lakh cash was missing, the FIR stated. When contacted, Sapkal said, 'I called the police control room and also made a complaint to SpiceJet about the theft. I requested for an on-the spot investigation immediately by checking CCTV cameras. The cops however, who came to the Airport, asked me to lodge an FIR at the police station. SpiceJet officials said they would show CCTV cameras only to the police. So I lodged the FIR and forwarded its copy to the SpiceJet personnel.' 'My bag was locked. The way it was broken, I feel the theft was committed by a professional burglar active at airports, which is supposed to be a well-secured establishment,' Sapkal said.
