₹400–₹700 flat fares to central Pune, cash only
The Prepaid Taxi Counter at Pune International Airport (PNQ) sits just outside the NITB arrivals exit, right after you walk past the baggage belts and customs doors. It runs roughly 24 hours, which matters for the late-night arrivals into PNQ between 23:00 and 02:00. You pay here first, get a paper slip with your destination and fare, then walk 30–60 seconds to the taxi queue in front of the terminal.
Fares to central spots like Koregaon Park, Shivajinagar, and Deccan Gymkhana usually fall in the ₹400–₹700 range, depending on distance from the airport’s Lohegaon location. The counter staff use a zone chart, so you don’t negotiate; they quote a fixed amount for your area inside Pune city limits. Keep small bills if you can, because change for ₹2,000 notes is hit-or-miss after midnight.
You don’t need a local SIM, OTP, or app sign-up; you only need your destination address written down or on your phone screen. Tell the clerk “Koregaon Park Lane 7” or “FC Road, near Deccan Gymkhana,” and they match it to a zone on their printed sheet. The slip they hand you shows the fare in rupees and often a handwritten cab number; give that slip to the dispatcher at the curb, then keep the bottom stub with you.
Cars are basic city taxis, usually small sedans or hatchbacks with modest luggage space; two 23 kg checked bags plus two carry-ons already feel tight in a standard PNQ cab. For three adults with big suitcases heading 8–10 km into town, expect a slightly higher slab than a solo traveler with just a cabin bag. Seats and AC are generally fine, but don’t expect card machines, UPI QR codes, or printed receipts.
The official counter removes the “how much?” back-and-forth with random drivers waiting outside the NITB exit gates. You pay the fixed amount at the counter window, then nothing more at drop-off unless you want to tip ₹20–₹50. Keep your phone flashlight handy so you can read the cab number on your slip and match it with the plate in the dim airport parking lights.
Tip: Before you queue, open Google Maps on airport Wi‑Fi, check the distance in kilometers to your hotel, and sanity-check the quoted slab; if it feels off by more than ₹200, ask the clerk to confirm the zone once more.