This story is from January 11, 2020

Kolkata: Expect flight delays as PM Narendra Modi flies in today

Flights arriving in Kolkata during a 20-30 minute period on Saturday late afternoon will be kept on hold to allow a buffer for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s safe passage.
Kolkata: Expect flight delays as PM Narendra Modi flies in today
Narendra Modi
KOLKATA: Flights arriving in Kolkata during a 20-30 minute period on Saturday late afternoon will be kept on hold to allow a buffer for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s safe passage. Departing flights will also be on hold during the period. On Sunday late morning and afternoon, when Modi departs from the city, other flights may be held back for a while as well.

Sources said the security enhancement would begin much before Air India One touches down at Kolkata airport. As the Embrair jet approaches Kolkata, the distance between it and other passenger flights arriving at the airport will be increased to twice the usual distance maintained between flights. Even during the journey, the PM aircraft will be assigned an altitude with a minimum gap of 2,000ft with other planes.
1

On touchdown, the plane will be taken to a bay next to the old domestic terminal, at least 500m away from the other bays where planes are parked. Here, the PM will either take his BMW 7 Series limousine and exit through gate no. 4 or hop into an Mi-17V-5 helicopter to travel to Race Course.
“When the PM accepts greetings from dignitaries at the airport, the area will be cordoned off and vehicular movement in the apron area, including passenger coaches and ground support equipment, will be restricted. The security protocol will lead to some delays in flight operations,” the source said.
Flight operations are expected to resume shortly after PM leaves the airport. Though a chopper can take off from the parking bay, given the PM’s elaborate security detail, the Indian Air Force chopper will taxi to the runway before flying off. Flights will be allowed to depart from Kolkata shortly after the helicopter takes off as they will head in different directions: passenger flights will take towards Madhyamgram and PM’s chopper will head southward for Race Course via Salt Lake.

However, if he takes the road, traffic along the route will be halted and allowed to resume only when the convoy is 3km away. Roads could be blocked for 15-20 minutes, leading to logjams that could last upto 40-45 minutes. Airlines have urged passengers taking flights between 3pm and 5pm to start at least two additional hours at hand to prevent missing flights owing to road blockades. Passengers arriving in flights between 3.30pm and 4.30pm are also likely to encounter commute delays.
On Sunday late morning-afternoon, flights will be halted as soon as PM boards the chopper at Race Course as it will take the same flight path as other incoming aircraft. Flight operations are likely to remain suspended till after PM’s flight departs the city. “There may be longer delays of upto an hour due to the VIP movement,” the official said.
author
About the Author
Subhro Niyogi

Subhro Niyogi is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, and his job responsibilities include reporting, editing and coordination of news and news features. His hobbies include photography, driving and reading.

End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA