The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has invested Rs 475 crore in the construction of the New Integrated Terminal Building at the Pune Airport to alleviate congestion during peak hours. According to AAI, 60% of the work has been completed, and the new building is expected to be completed by August 2022. The current Terminal Building, which has a built-up area of only 22000 sq m, can handle up to seven million passengers per year (MPPA). The existing building handled more than nine million passengers in the 2018-19 fiscal year, compared to only 5.4 million passengers in the 2015-16 fiscal year. The new terminal building will have a passenger handling capacity of 19 million passengers per year, with a massive built-up area of more than 5,00,000 sq. ft (MPPA). The most important goal of the new terminal building project is to achieve unity and continuity between the old and new. The Verandah, which stretches for 360 m, is a unifying facade that not only protects from the sun and rain, but also serves as a grand urban fresco telling the storey of Pune's rich social, historical, artistic, and immaterial culture. The public area below the great Verandah is supported by beautiful Maratha arches and decorated columns with a finish of local dark stone, as seen in many heritage structures throughout Maharashtra. The new forecourt garden design is based on the Shaniwar Wada Gardens, which is one of Pune's most well-known landmarks. A multilevel car park with a cost of Rs 120 crore is also under construction to provide a long-term solution to the parking problem. The multi-level car parking will have a capacity of 1,024 cars and will be connected to the existing building's departure area via a sky bridge, with a stairwell, escalators, and elevators on the building side for dropping or going up. The renovated terminal building will allow the airport to handle increased passenger traffic while also reducing congestion within the terminal. Image Source Also read: Pune Airport's new terminal building set to open by August 2022