Rs 80–150 usually gets you from PNQ to Viman Nagar
The Auto Rickshaw Stand sits outside Pune International Airport’s NITB arrivals area, used mostly by hand-luggage-only passengers heading to close-by spots like Viman Nagar (about 3–4 km) or Yerwada (around 6 km). This is a meter-rickshaw scene with plenty of fare negotiation, more like a neighborhood corner than a formal airport taxi rank.
Expect rickshaws here from roughly 6:00 to 23:00, matching most domestic bank of flights into PNQ’s NITB. Fares to Viman Nagar usually land near Rs 100, and Yerwada tends to be around Rs 120–150, depending on time of day and your bargaining skills. You pay cash, in rupee notes, straight to the driver; cards and UPI are hit-or-miss.
To reach the stand, exit baggage claim at NITB, walk past the prepaid taxi counters, and head 150–200 meters toward the main road outside the terminal gate. Drivers often wait in the shade, some literally reading the Sakal or Lokmat newspapers, which matches the Facebook stories about the old Poona-era vibe. There’s no big English signboard, so just ask for the “riksha stand” as you walk out.
Seats are tight: each auto usually takes 2 adults with cabin bags, or 3 if one has only a backpack; large check‑in suitcases over 23 kg are awkward and may block the side. From PNQ to Viman Nagar, ride time is 10–15 minutes if traffic on Nagar Road cooperates, and 20–25 minutes in evening peak between 18:30 and 21:00.
Fare discussion happens before you sit down: drivers may quote Rs 150–200 for a 3–4 km ride from NITB, and you can counter closer to Rs 80–120 depending on distance and hour. Mention a clear landmark like Phoenix Marketcity, Symbiosis Viman Nagar, or Yerwada COEP Hostel to avoid detours. There’s no printed receipt, so treat this like any street rickshaw ride in Pune.
One practical tip: keep a Rs 500 note broken at the terminal kiosk or ATM inside NITB before walking out, and stash a small bundle of Rs 10, Rs 20, and Rs 50 notes; it speeds things up and makes it harder for a driver to claim they have “no change” on a Rs 90–100 fare.