In response to concerns raised by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor regarding the chaotic situation at Delhi Airport, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia addressed the issues in a detailed statement on Wednesday. He emphasized that cranes operating near the airport will now be limited to non-fog days to avoid interference with flight operations.
The cranes are being employed for critical infrastructure projects, including the Urban Extension Road II, connecting Alipur to Mahipalpur, as part of the Dwarka Expressway development. However, the presence of these structures in the flight path has been affecting the localizer signals on the Instrument Landing System (ILS) of Delhi airport’s runway 29L.
Scindia clarified that the decision to restrict crane operations to non-fog days is a measure to ensure the smooth functioning of flight operations, particularly during adverse weather conditions. Runway 11R/29L has been operational as CAT III since Tuesday, following the adjustments made to crane operations.
Responding to allegations of chaos at Delhi Airport, Scindia highlighted the critical nature of runway maintenance and explained that ongoing re-carpeting work on runway 28/10 has temporarily closed the CAT III-compliant runway. However, he assured that the revamped runway is expected to become operational this week.
Scindia also addressed concerns about pilot training, stating that India has seen a significant increase in CAT II/CAT III trained pilots, growing from 2,416 in 2014 to 6,191 in 2023. He emphasized the importance of the three dependent factors for CAT III landings – runway capability, aircraft capability, and pilot accreditation.
Regarding the recent diversion of a Goa-Delhi flight to Mumbai and subsequent passenger inconvenience, Scindia acknowledged the unacceptable treatment and issued a show cause notice to the operators. He assured the implementation of corrective actions and emphasized the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) strict monitoring of passenger complaints and penalization of operators found guilty.
In response to Tharoor’s criticisms, Scindia defended the government’s efforts, citing the formation of new airlines and increased fleet sizes under the Prime Minister’s UDAN vision. He highlighted the growth of airports and projected further expansion in the coming years.
As the aviation ministry continues to address concerns and enhance passenger services, Scindia assured the public of zero tolerance for any lapses in addressing passenger grievances and urged confidence in ongoing improvements within the aviation sector.
Sources By Agencies
