Nagpur: The Nagpur Bench of the High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports highlighting the difficulties faced by air travelers due to the closure of the Nagpur airport runway for 18 hours daily since March, allegedly for maintenance. During a hearing on Wednesday, the court expressed frustration over the Civil Aviation Ministry’s failure to submit an affidavit, despite the hearing being postponed twice.
The court also noted the increased airport fee of ₹700 per domestic flight at Cluster-1 airports, drawing attention to the added burden on passengers. The Airport Authority of India’s affidavit was reviewed, and the respondents requested more time to study it, leading to another postponement of the hearing.
Possible Penalties for Infrastructure Company
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Tuesday 28 Jan. 2025
The court also expressed dissatisfaction with KG Infrastructure Company, one of the respondents, for failing to file an affidavit. The court indicated that penalties might be imposed on the company for its non-compliance. However, other respondents assured the court that they would notify the company before any punitive actions are taken.
The court was informed that despite the high facility fees charged to passengers—₹709 at Nagpur Airport, which exceeds fees at major international airports like Mumbai and Delhi—travelers are not receiving adequate services.
Estimated ₹60 Crore for Runway Upgrades
According to media reports, approximately ₹60 crore is estimated for the improvement of the 3,200-meter-long international runway at Nagpur Airport. The project, managed by Mihan India Ltd., was supposed to commence in March 2024. Initially, discussions were held to close the runway for 8 hours daily, from 10 AM to 6 PM, for the upgrade work. However, the runway’s closure was temporarily lifted due to the Lok Sabha elections and the subsequent visits of political leaders.
