Pune Airport Proposes Advanced Automated Number Plate Recognition System to Enhance Enforcement

Strategic Insights -

The Pune International Airport is considering the implementation of an advanced Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system to monitor and penalise private vehicles that overstay in restricted zones. The proposal, sent to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) two to three months ago, aims to streamline and automate the enforcement process, which currently relies on manual methods. The airport authorities have proposed the ANPR system to tackle the increasing number of private vehicles ferrying passengers to and from the airport, which often leads to congestion and operational challenges.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Pune airport authorities have proposed the implementation of an ANPR system to monitor and penalise private vehicles that overstay in restricted zones.
  • The proposal was sent to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) two to three months ago, but approval is still pending.
  • The current manual enforcement methods have proven to be inadequate in tackling the issue of private vehicles overstaying in restricted zones.
  • The airport authorities have a small team of four to five personnel to manage traffic inflow and enforce rules, which is inadequate for the increasing number of private vehicles.
  • Private vehicles which are parked for long durations often go unchecked, contributing to congestion and operational challenges.

Santosh Dhoke, Pune Airport director, stated that the proposal for implementing ANPR has been submitted to the AAI, but approval is still pending. In the meantime, the airport continues to rely on limited manpower for carrying out penalty actions.

Statistics:

  • 15 minutes: the allowed grace period for private vehicles to remain within the terminal area before being liable to pay a fine.
  • Rs. 500: the fine imposed on private vehicles exceeding the allowed 15-minute duration within the terminal area.
  • 2016: the year when a fee of Rs. 85 was imposed for vehicles halting more than seven minutes.
  • Rs. 340: the penalty imposed in 2019 for vehicles staying more than three minutes.
  • 2019: the year when the allowed duration was reduced to three minutes, with a penalty of Rs. 340.

Sources:

  • [Hindustan Times]
  • Airport Authority of India (AAI)
  • Pune International Airport