Bihar: Gaya airport gears up for two shift operations

GAYA: With the expected arrival of about 100 CISF personnel to strengthen the existing manpower deputed at the Gaya airport, AAI now gears up for two shift operation. As of now about 160 CISF personnel of different ranks provide security to the airport. The present strength is inadequate for two shift operations.
According to AAI sources, ministry of home affairs has cleared the deployment of additional forces and if everything goes as per plan, the additional force is likely to be deputed before March end. Refusing to share details, Gaya airport director Dilip Kumar said that soon the airport would be in a position to handle air traffic in two shifts. As of now, the airport operates in a single 8 hour shift beginning eight in the morning every day.
Besides the additional CISF personnel, the AAI needs another 25 officials including those skilled in Air Traffic control, Communication Navigation and fire fighting etc for a two shift operation. Regular personnel to man these important positions are required and this can not be outsourced, said an official of the AAI.
Asked about the skilled manpower required to maintain a two shift operation, the airport director said that getting more skilled manpower for traffic control and navigation etc would not be a problem.
Earlier in November’2019, a spice jet team conducted pre operation survey at the Gaya airport to start operations on the Gaya-Delhi route. However, the airlines, according to sources, has not as yet formally applied for a time slot. Two shift operation is likely to give impetus to private operators to introduce more flights and/or re route existing flights via Gaya.
As of now there is only one direct flight on the Gaya-Delhi route and there is enough scope for additional flights on the route. The Spice jet team that surveyed the facilities at the Gaya airport in November included officials of the security and safety depts of the airlines.
It may be recalled that earlier Indigo sought an afternoon slot for its proposed operation on the Gaya-Delhi route. But on account of congestion in the afternoon slot, the airlines was advised to seek a time slot between 9-12 in the forenoon, which the airlines did not find suitable.
During its November Survey, spice jet is also learnt to have studied the viability of introducing a flight for Dubai/Jeddah. Though, sizeable number of workers from Bihar and Jharkhand work in the middle eastern countries, there is no direct air link for these countries from anywhere in the two states.
Gaya, it may be recalled, is the only international airport of the states of Bihar and Jharkhand and does have the immigration and custom facility to handle international passengers.