Latest news with #PuneInternationalAirport
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Pune Airport awaits nod for automated vehicle penalty system
Pune: In light of the significant rise in the number of private vehicles ferrying passengers to and from the Pune International Airport, the airport authorities have proposed the implementation of an advanced Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system to monitor and penalise the vehicles that halt for extended periods. The system would automatically detect vehicles overstaying in restricted zones and issue fines accordingly. Pune, India - October 5, 2017: Airport pune at Lohegaon in Pune, India, on Thursday, October 5, 2017. (Photo by Rahul Raut/HT PHOTO) The proposal was sent to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) two to three months back, according to a Pune airport official. However, as the necessary approval has not yet come, the airport continues to rely on manual enforcement methods, which have proven to be inadequate in tackling the issue. With passenger traffic increasing, travellers usually prefer to use private cars or app-based cabs for timely and hassle-free commutes. According to AAI regulations, there is a defined time limit for private vehicles to remain in the terminal area, and if a vehicle remains beyond the allotted time, it is subject to penal action. To enforce these rules, the Pune airport authorities have deployed a small team of four to five personnel, which is not adequate to manage the traffic inflow. Many private vehicles which are parked for long durations go unchecked, contributing to congestion and operational challenges. To address this problem, the proposal to implement the ANPR-based automated system was submitted to AAI by the Pune airport authorities. Pune Airport director Santosh Dhoke said, '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, which falls short of effectively managing the situation caused by prolonged parking of private vehicles near the terminal.' As the airport continues to rely on the manual penalty system, officials attempt to identify and act against vehicles violating the time limits. However, enforcement is often met with resistance. Staff report that drivers frequently argue or refuse to comply when asked to vacate the area. These interactions have at times escalated into verbal altercations, further complicating the enforcement process. According to the updated airport regulations issued in June 2025, private vehicles are allowed a grace period of 15 minutes within the terminal area. Any vehicle exceeding this time is liable to pay a fine of ₹500, which would be collected through the automated ANPR system once operational. Until now, due to the lack of approval of the new system, fines are being collected manually by the enforcement staff. Historically, the fine structure has evolved over time. In 2016, a fee of ₹85 was imposed for vehicles halting more than seven minutes. In 2019, the allowed duration was reduced to three minutes, with a penalty of ₹340. The current proposal aims to introduce a more streamlined and technology-driven approach through the ANPR.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Marijuana worth ₹10.5 cr seized from passenger from Bangkok, arrested
Customs officers on July 24 detained a man at the Pune International Airport with more than 10 kilograms of the banned contraband, hydroponic marijuana or 'hydro weed'. The drugs were found in the bag of the passenger, identified as Abhinay Amarnath Yadav, an Indian resident, who had arrived from Bangkok. They found 10.47 kg of hydro weed, valued at around ₹ 10.5 crore in the black market. (HT) The officers noticed him behaving suspiciously, so they checked his luggage carefully. They found 10.47 kg of hydro weed, valued at around ₹10.5 crore in the black market. A case was registered under the NDPS Act, 1985, which deals with trafficking of narcotic substances, and Yadav was arrested. He was produced in court, which remanded him to judicial custody. Customs officers said they are now investigating to find out international linkages, if any, as the passenger carrying the contraband had arrived from Bangkok.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
Man held at Pune Airport for smuggling hydroponic weed worth Rs 10.5 crore
Officials of the Customs department nabbed a passenger at the Pune International Airport in Lohegaon with possession of 10.47 kilograms of 'hydroponic weed', a banned narcotics drug. Customs officials have identified the passenger as Abhinay Amarnath Yadav. A press release issued on Friday stated that Yadav landed at the Pune International Airport from Bangkok by an Indigo Flight on Thursday. Customs officials intercepted him at the Airport. During searches, 10.47 kilograms of hydroponic weed estimated at Rs 10.5 crores in illicit market, was seized from his possession, the press release stated. An offence was lodged against the accused Yadav under sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. A court remanded him to judicial custody today. Further investigation is on to know from where he procured the marijuana and whether he is part of any larger drugs smuggling racket. Last week, in a joint operation, the Military Intelligence (MI) unit of the Indian Army's Southern Command and anti-narcotics cell of the Pune city police had arrested two persons in possession of Mephedrone. Police have identified the suspects as Abhinav Pradip Gupta (22) of Lakshmi Parvati society in Shivane and Irshad Iftiqar Shaikh (27) of Parge Nagar, Kondhwa. Police said 8.28 grams of 'OG Kush'estimated at Rs 82,800 was also allegedly seized from Gupta, who is a criminal on police record.
The Print
17-07-2025
- The Print
Two held at Pune airport for bringing exotic wildlife species from Bangkok
Pune, Jul 16 (PTI) Two passengers have been arrested at the Pune International Airport for allegedly trying to smuggle exotic wildlife species into the country from Bangkok, officials said on Wednesday. Acting on specific intelligence, Pune Customs officers intercepted Zaheerabbas Aynal Mandal and Bhavesh Rameshbhai Solanki after they landed in the city on an Air India Express Flight on Monday.
Indian Express
07-07-2025
- Indian Express
Pune Crime Files: How a probe into dating app scam led police to mule accounts, cybercriminals with China links
A Pune-based IT professional in his 40s signed up on a dating platform last year, and he connected with the profile of a woman named Anamika, ironically, a word that means 'anonymous'. Their online conversations quickly grew into what seemed like a genuine relationship, and soon, talks of marriage followed. But the connection, which appeared to promise a shared future, turned out to be an elaborate cyber scam in which he was allegedly duped of a staggering Rs 1.55 crore over eight months. The investigation revealed that the cybercriminals, operating behind the profile of 'Anamika,' gradually gained the complainant's trust and allegedly requested large sums of money. On the pretence of building a future together, 'Anamika' allegedly convinced him to transfer funds to purchase a house without ever having met. Over time, the scammers further manipulated him into investing in various trading apps, luring him with promises of exceptionally high returns, said the police. After spending nearly all his life savings and facing further demands for more money, he realised he had been deceived. When he tried to recover his funds, 'Anamika' allegedly abruptly stopped all communication with him. The police filed an FIR in March based on his complaint. The investigation by the cybercrime police station in Pimpri Chinchwad unearthed an elaborate network of mule account handlers allegedly operating from Solapur and with links to cybercriminals masterminding these scams from China. The police zeroed in on one particular mule account registered in Solapur in June. As the account holder was questioned, he spilled the beans on three others from Solapur who had allegedly told him that his bank account would be used for taking funds obtained from gaming applications. As the investigation dug deeper into these three suspects, the police established their identities and roles in the racket. The mule account handlers from Solapur have been identified as Shubham Chandrakant Mantha, 25, a resident of Ashok Chowk; Swapnil Chandulal Baheti, 35, a resident of Hotgi Road; and Prashik Uttam Navghare, 26, a resident of Juna Kumbhani Naka. 'Our investigation revealed that Mantha worked for a China-headquartered payment application company, and he and Baheti were in direct contact with the masterminds based out of China. A coordinated search operation was launched for the trio as their roles were confirmed in the probe,' an officer who was part of the probe said. In the second week of June, Mantha and Navghare were arrested from Pune International Airport when they were about to flee to Nepal via Patna. Baheti, too, was placed under arrest. 'Investigation revealed an elaborate mule handling and fund siphoning operation with direct links to China,' said an officer. All three suspects are currently in judicial custody. Sushant Kulkarni is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express in Pune with 12+ years of experience covering issues related to Crime, Defence, Internal Security and Courts. He has been associated with the Indian Express since July 2010. Sushant has extensively reported on law and order issues of Pune and surrounding area, Cyber crime, narcotics trade and terrorism. His coverage in the Defence beat includes operational aspects of the three services, the defence research and development and issues related to key defence establishments. He has covered several sensitive cases in the courts at Pune. Sushant is an avid photographer, plays harmonica and loves cooking. ... Read More
