In India’s crowded aviation market, a lean day on the tarmac is rare. But during the G20 summit next month, ground staff and operators of the Hindon civil terminal are likely to see rare busy days.
Other than the occasional VVIP visitor, the terminal – which was prepared as NCR’s second base for aircraft should Delhi’s IGI airport run out of space – has not seen any regular flights since January 25 this year when the last Star Air flight to Karnataka took off.
The director of the terminal, Saraswathi Venkat, said on August 23 they had received instructions from the external affairs ministry to prepare the terminal for the G20 summit.
At present, T2 is operating only domestic services, but from August 31 onwards, T2 will be exclusively used for international flight operations. With all international flight operations shifting to T2, the old terminal or T1 will cater to only domestic operations. The airport has complimentary shuttle services available to commute between T1 and T2.
“We have received communication from the ministry of external affairs to ready the terminal for foreign delegates arriving to attend the G20 summit, which will take place in Delhi from September 8 to 10,” Venkat said, adding the ministry had not shared any itinerary, except that delegates landing at the IAF base would be guided toward the civil terminal for departure. Brushing up is, however, not a job for the airport’s operators alone. The corporation’s help has been sought to repair the road leading to the terminal and beautify the routes G20 delegates landing here will take to Delhi.
Municipal commissioner Nitin Gaur said a meeting with officials from Hindon IAF station and the director of the Hindon civil terminal was held on Tuesday and the civic body was directed to repair and beautify the roads leading to Delhi via the Hindon elevated road.
Currently, roads leading to the terminal — near Karheda and Sikanderpur cuts and Wazirabad road — are riddled with uneven patches and potholes, with rainwater collecting in puddles. “With only two weeks left for the summit, directions have been issued to the corporation’s construction, electrical and horticulture units to start the work,” Gaur said.
The development of Datia Airport is slated to cost approximately INR 50 crore, and its expected completion date is February 2024. Over the years, the number of aircraft movements per week in Madhya Pradesh has surged from 506 in 2014 to 554 in 2021, and the momentum has only accelerated, reaching 956 at present.
The terminal, meanwhile, is running with very few staff — eight officials from the Airports Authority of India and 62 personnel from the airport security unit who guard the premises across three shifts, besides the sanitation and horticulture employees.
Developed over 3,500 sqm, the terminal was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019. It was seen as a base for air connectivity to western UP districts and Uttarakhand, but never really took off.
Star Air was the only airline to consistently operate flights — to Hubli and Kalburgi. This year, the airline suspended operations from the terminal, citing “maintenance” and has not resumed services yet. Heritage Aviation operated the first flight from the terminal, to Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand, but the service was irregular and stopped soon after.
