Nagpur airport runway awaits surfacing despite DGCA directions

Nagpur: While issuing provisional licence to Mihan India Ltd (MIL), operator company of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had warned it to immediately recarpet its 3,200-meter runway. DGCA had also asked MIL to ensure that all issues related to airport safety are taken care of by July 30, 2012. However, authorities have turned a blind eye towards the pathetic condition of the runway and the DGCA directions.
Sources at the airport said the 3,200-meter runway at Nagpur airport was last resurfaced eight years back, in 2004. Before that, the then operator Airports Authority of India (AAI) had resurfaced it in 1995.
The damaged runway has not forced any unscheduled closure of the airport yet, but pilots have frequently complained about the runway condition. Pilots have not complained officially but lodged verbal complaints about the pathetic condition of the runway and possibility of a mishap, sources said.
MIL officials agree in private that due to increase in air traffic from the city airport, the existing runway requires immediate resurfacing. But officially, they cannot admit that the runway has been damaged totally.
03/01/12 Sachin Dravekar/Times of India

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Categories: airports Jan 2012