Latest news with #AirportsAuthorityofIndia
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
AAI praises Gkp Airport team for tech advancements
Gorakhpur: Gorakhpur Airport's communication team was awarded a certificate of commendation by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the successful installation of DVOR (Doppler VHF Omni Range) and DME (Distance Measuring Equipment), two essential navigation systems enhancing flight safety and operational efficiency. The recognition, issued by the AAI's regional headquarters in New Delhi, was handed over by Airport director R K Parashar on behalf of deputy general manager (communication) Brijesh Kumar Luthra. The commendation was received by AGM (communication) and team leader Vijay Kaushal along with team members Arvind Yadav, Dinesh Kumar Gupta (AGMs, electronics), Alok Kumar (assistant manager, electronics), and Shrishanshu Jaiswal (senior assistant). With DVOR and DME now functional, Gorakhpur Airport is equipped to handle all-weather operations and an expected rise in air traffic with improved navigation accuracy. The airport director praised the team's technical dedication and collaborative spirit, calling it 'a reflection of vision, teamwork, and commitment to excellence." The event was attended by AAI officials, staff, local administration, and media representatives.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Kailashahar Airbase revival: Why a forgotten 1971 war airstrip might be key to India's NE strategy
Kailashahar airport in Tripura, which has remained non-operational since the 1971 Indo-Pak war, is set to be revived in the near future. This will become the second airport for the state, complementing Agartala's Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, and is expected to greatly enhance connectivity for Tripura's residents and businesses. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has initiated steps to revive the defunct Kailashahar airport in Unakoti district. Following a request from the Tripura state government, AAI Northeast Regional Executive Director M Raju Krishore, accompanied by Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport Director K C Meena, visited the site on May 26 to assess infrastructure, land availability, and visibility conditions. Meena told PTI that the AAI is exploring options to acquire either 75 or 205 acres of land to develop the facility and prepare a revival plan accordingly. Currently, the Kailashahar airport has a runway length of about 1,000 meters, which is insufficient for operating larger aircraft such as ATRs. The availability and safety of smaller planes that carry 16 to 19 passengers remain a concern, according to officials. The airport that sent alarm bells ringing The urgency to restart the airport comes amid reports that Bangladesh is receiving assistance from China to renovate Lalmonirhat Airport, a World War II-era airstrip situated approximately 132 kilometres from India's strategically critical Chicken's Neck corridor and just 15 to 20 kilometres from the Indian border. The airport is spread over 1,166 acres and it has a four-kilometre runway and large tarmac. Live Events The Chicken's Neck corridor is only 22km wide, it connects Northeast India to the rest of India and is considered vital for national security. 'There is a fear that this airport will be developed for dual use—civilian and military purposes. It could help China keep a tab on Indian activities whether civilian or military or help them gather intelligence near the Siliguri corridor,' said Sriparna Pathak, China Studies professor at O.P. Jindal University, as quoted by TOI. The importance of Kailashahar airport The airport, strategically located in Unakoti district, has been inactive for over 30 years. The airport is only a few kilometres from the Bangladesh border. It played a key role during the 1971 India-Pakistan war when the Indian Air Force conducted missions and surveillance from the site. Ironically, the Kilo Flight which became the first Bangladesh Airforce unit, commenced its operations from this very airport. They carried out missions using one Chetak, one Armed Otter and one Dakota against the Pakistani forces in erstwhile East Pakistan, according to a PIB press release. The airport is also meant to act as a deterrent to both Bangladesh and China, making it clear that India will respond decisively to any action that threatens its territorial integrity. While the revival of this airport is being portrayed as a measure to improve air connectivity, and promote economic development, it is also being viewed as an important measure to strengthen India's strategic preparedness in the sensitive 'Chicken's neck' border area. Officials have indicated that revitalizing Kailashahar Airport will facilitate faster movement of goods and personnel and contribute to strengthening infrastructure near the sensitive border areas. The development also reflects India's efforts to maintain and enhance its strategic posture in the northeast, particularly as neighboring countries develop their own border infrastructure with international partnerships. While the revival of Kailashahar Airport is currently in preliminary stages, authorities emphasize that it will primarily serve civilian purposes alongside supporting regional security needs.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Juhu Circle flyover will add to our traffic woes: local residents
MUMBAI: The ₹630-crore flyover offering a quick zip from C D Barfiwala Lane to the Juhu-Versova Link Road, gliding over Juhu Circle, is a bridge that fits right in with the BMC's grand plan of connecting the high-speed corridors of the Mumbai Coastal Road. Local residents, however, argue that the flyover's approach roads will create bottlenecks for those traversing the roads below. A long time in the making, the Juhu Circle flyover has gone through many changes of plan. First floated in 2016 to reduce congestion at Juhu Circle, the flyover was meant to go along the pillars of the Metro 2B line at a lower level. But this was scrapped as it was found to be clunky and difficult. After the next route—through Airports Authority of India land—was also abandoned in 2023 on account of height restrictions, the civic body went back to the original plan of going parallel with Metro 2B. One entry point of the flyover will now begin after Barfiwala Bridge ends near Juhu Galli, and the other one will be on the Juhu-Versova Link Road. Milaan Vigraham, a resident of the area, said that the roads where the flyover was being built were three-lane roads, with a few encroachments on C D Barfiwala Lane. 'Once the flyover is in the thick of construction, it will occupy two of them, leaving a measly one lane at the approaches for everyone who wants to go anywhere else at the junction,' he said. 'The flyover is only catering to those who want to go from Juhu to Andheri West and WEH, but the junction meets vehicles travelling from Gulmohar Road, NS Road Number 10, and CES Marg. They will all still have to wait for the two signals and also have the flyover's pillars to contend with.' Vigraham also raised the concern that some trees along the Juhu-Versova Link Road would have to be axed to make space. Along with architects and urban planners Alan Abraham and Nitin Killawala, the bunch tried to appeal to the BMC to choose an alternative when the work on the bridge was beginning in September-October 2024. 'Why doesn't the BMC work on reducing the signal time first, which would improve the congestion at the junction?' asked Vigraham. Abraham pointed out that the BMC needed to concentrate on the other roads earmarked in the Development Plan 2034, which will add alternatives to the traffic flocking to the circle. Due to scant support from the area's residents, however, their fight fizzled out. Mahindra Chawla, an architect who uses the road frequently and was part of a campaign that argued for the bridge, said the Juhu Circle junction was terrible. 'The signals there are too long, and then they open for too short a time,' he said. 'Bottlenecks are inevitable in a city so chock-full of traffic but possibly around 80% of the traffic that uses the junction uses it to go to the other suburbs. The locals form possibly 20% of the traffic, so the flyover will be a boon for most.' An official from the BMC's bridge department, however, said that traffic at the bottlenecks would not be an issue, as the flyover would divert much of the traffic going through Juhu Circle. 'Commuters from Versova and Juhu will reach Andheri and then go on to Gokhale Bridge towards the WEH in 10 minutes flat, way down from the current 45 minutes,' he said. 'The flyover will also have a link later to the Bandra-Versova Sea Link, so people coming from there can reach the WEH easily and quickly.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Prostarm Info Systems IPO Day 2: GMP falls despite healthy subscription from investors
Prostarm Info Systems ' Rs 168 crore IPO has drawn healthy interest from retail and non-institutional investors, but the enthusiasm in the grey market has started to cool. The company's shares, which were commanding a grey market premium (GMP) of Rs 25 just a day earlier, are now trading at a premium of Rs 19. This decline in GMP comes even as the IPO saw high bidding activity on Day 2. The offer, which opened for subscription on May 27 and closes on May 29, is a book-building issue with a price band of Rs 95 to Rs 105 per share. Investors can apply in lots of 142 shares, requiring a minimum investment of Rs 14,910 at the upper price band. Shares are expected to be listed on June 3 on the BSE and NSE. Despite the fall in GMP, overall subscription data tells a bullish story. The IPO was subscribed more than 11 times overall, with particularly heavy demand coming from high net-worth individuals. The NII segment saw a 22.79 times subscription rate, while retail investors bid 12.2 times their quota. The QIB portion, however, was just about fully subscribed at 0.99 times, with limited participation from mutual funds and foreign institutions. Founded in 2008, Prostarm Info Systems designs and manufactures power conditioning equipment including UPS systems, inverters, lithium-ion battery packs, and solar hybrid solutions. It serves a wide range of sectors such as aviation, defence, banking, education, and healthcare. Key clients include Railtel, Airports Authority of India, and NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam. The IPO proceeds will be used to support working capital needs, repay debt, fund inorganic growth, and meet general corporate requirements. Choice Capital Advisors is the lead manager and KFin Technologies is the registrar to the issue. From a fundamentals perspective, the company has been growing steadily. Revenue increased from Rs 232 crore in FY23 to Rs 259 crore in FY24, and it has already posted Rs 270 crore in the first nine months of FY25. Net profit for 9MFY25 stood at Rs 22.11 crore, nearly matching the full-year FY24 profit of Rs 22.80 crore. Bajaj Broking recommends subscribing to the IPO with a long-term view, citing the company's leadership in integrated power solutions and its strong financial performance. While the short-term listing premium appears to be moderating, Prostarm's business fundamentals and expanding market reach keep long-term prospects intact.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
AAI team visits Tripura CM Manik Saha, holds discussions to revive defunct Kailashahar airport
An Airports Authority of India (AAI) delegation Tuesday met Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha and discussed the proposed revival of the Kailashahar airport in the Unakoti district, which has been defunct for 30 years. According to an official from the Chief Minister's Office, the AAI team visited the Kailasahar airport for an on-the-support survey Sunday. The AAI team's visit followed CM Saha's recent meeting with Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia in Delhi, in which the chief minister requested him to revive the Kailashahar airport soon. Dr Saha also wrote to Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu about the issue, said the CMO official. Tripura currently relies on a single major airport, Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in the capital Agartala, which caters only to domestic passengers. In September 2024, Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said the Centre will declare the MBB Airport in Agartala an international airport and make two other defunct airports operational. According to historian and writer Pannalal Roy, the erstwhile kings of Tripura had donated land for the Agartala and Kailasahar airports. During World War II, Maharaja Bir Bikram supported the Allied powers, particularly Great Britain, by deploying a team from the Tripura army to assist them. During this period, airports were constructed in Agartala, Kailasahar, and other locations to facilitate support for the Allied forces. The Agartala airport was renamed after Maharaja Bir Bikram in July 2018. Highlighting MBB airport as one of the airports equipped with the most modern infrastructure, CM Saha had earlier requested the Centre to introduce international services from the airport. 'At present, many flights are operating to most of the important cities throughout the country. More flights will be added in future. There were discussions to begin an international flight to Chittagong in Bangladesh, but the plan is on hold due to the current situation in Bangladesh,' Dr Saha had said. In the Northeast region, Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport in Guwahati and Bir Tikendrajit International Airport in Imphal have international status. Tripura's MBB Airport has the second-most air traffic in the region after Guwahati.
