The next challenge for the Jamnagar airport, which has been dealing with more than five times its normal traffic since February 26, will be before March 4, when most of the guests attending Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding festivities depart. and the 5th.
The domestic airport, which also houses an air force base, has been given special permission by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to operate international flights from February 26 to March 6.
Pop star Rihanna was the first celebrity to board the plane home from the airport, leaving early Saturday morning.
The three-day celebrations marking the wedding of Reliance Industries Limited Chairman Mukesh Ambani’s younger son Ananth and Encore Healthcare CEO Biren Merchant’s daughter Radhika will conclude on Sunday. More than 50 of the celebrities on the guest list had flown in from overseas.
Speaking to The Indian Express on Saturday, Jamnagar Airport Director Dhananjay Kumar said, “We received CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine) clearance on February 25 based on our request. Until March 1st, we operated 40 international flights.” Sent by Reliance Industries to facilitate international mobility. ”
“These flights (20 arrivals, 20 departures) also include cargo flights. International flights arrive primarily from the US, UK, Paris, Milan, the Middle East, Bhutan…typically arrivals per day We are handling a total of six flights, three departures and three departures,” he added.
Mr Singh further said that a major challenge the airport faced was during the arrival and departure of singer Rihanna. Rihanna arrived on an Airbus, but her staff and luggage arrived on a Boeing 767. “The challenge was to accommodate all the arriving flights…Rihanna’s flight was particularly difficult because she had to bring the flight close to the terminal,” he added. .
Singh said maintaining passenger disembarkation and ground handling is a challenge, adding, “We have deployed support staff from Ahmedabad and Rajkot airports to provide personnel for ground handling, cleaning and immigration operations. “Air traffic control and runways, on the other hand, belong to the airlines.” Compulsory, AAI operates the terminal building, the aircraft parking area, and the parking area outside the terminal. ”
Singh said due to lack of parking space, aircraft are either parked at Rajkot or Ahmedabad airport terminals or are “flying back”.
Meanwhile, Jamnagar district police deployed additional security to ensure law and order across Jamnagar during the VVIP movement. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad inspects the airport three times daily, while police personnel from other districts are also deployed.
Our rapid response team is standing by.
Jamnagar Superintendent of Police PS Delu said 1,500 personnel were deployed in Jamnagar, of which 600 were brought from other districts. “The 1,500 personnel also includes around 500 home security guards…Due to heavy movement of VVIPs, escorts are assigned to X, Y or Z category guardians as per protocol…Escorts An additional 50 vehicles have been deployed to provide the facility,” he added.
Mr Deru also said security at the airport had also been strengthened. “Apart from passengers, onlookers are also flocking to the airport to catch a glimpse of the celebrities. The bottleneck on the national highway connecting Jamnagar airport to Reliance area, about 30 km away, is heavy with vehicular traffic, so to prevent traffic congestion We are trying to address this.”
