Surat : The diamond city of Surat is facing yet another neglect when it comes to the 24 hour operation of the Surat International Airport. Despite a clear directive issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Surat airport is yet to be operational for 24 hours.
An aware citizen lodged a complaint with the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances portal regarding this issue. However, Vikram Singh, General Manager of Operations at AAI’s Central Headquarters, acknowledged that the 24-hour operations at Surat Airport have not commenced due to a shortage of manpower across various departments, including Air Traffic Control (ATC) and other critical support services.
The reply stated, “This office has already taken up the matter with CHQ/RHQ for deployment of manpower in different sections for the functioning of 24-hour operations at Surat Airport. Once the manpower deployment process is completed, Surat Airport will be available for 24-hour operations.”
It is alarming to note that this response comes despite an official order from M. Suresh, Member – Aeronautical Navigation System (ANS)/Operations, dated January 10, 2023, which directed that Surat, along with Agartala, Imphal, Madurai, and Bhopal airports, be made fully operational 24 hours a day, effective April 1, 2023.
The directive explicitly stated that the Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) departments were to make provisions for the necessary manpower and infrastructure, with additional instructions to all relevant departments, including operations, technical, and security, to ensure seamless round-the-clock operations.
The continued shortage of manpower not only contradicts the provisions set forth in this directive but also significantly hinders the growth of both domestic and international flights at Surat Airport. Furthermore, the underutilization of the expanded terminal, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, represents a missed opportunity for the city’s aviation sector and overall economic development.
“This situation raises serious questions about the effectiveness of communication and implementation within the AAI and the apparent disregard for directives issued by one of its highest offices. The delay in making Surat Airport operational 24 hours a day is causing substantial setbacks in its capacity and potential growth” said a frequent flyer on condition of anonymity.
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