Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Unveils Action Plan for Aviation Services Amidst Dense Fog in Delhi
New Delhi, January 14, 2024: Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia revealed a comprehensive action plan on Monday to address disruptions in aviation services caused by dense fog conditions in Delhi.
On Sunday, January 14, the capital experienced unprecedented fog, resulting in fluctuating visibility and, at times, dropping to zero between 5 AM to 9 AM, stated the Civil Aviation Minister. Taking to social media, he highlighted that authorities were compelled to temporarily halt operations, including on CAT III runways, which are unable to handle zero-visibility operations. The decision prioritized passenger safety, emphasizing it as the foremost concern within the aviation ecosystem.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation disclosed on Monday that all three operational runways at Delhi Airport, including a CAT III runway, managed flight operations on Sunday but with reduced capacity due to the intense fog. In response, the Ministry outlined steps to mitigate similar situations in the future.
As per the action plan, Delhi Airport is directed to expedite the operationalization of the CAT III-enabled 4th runway (in addition to the existing CAT III-enabled runway) to the satisfaction of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to obtain necessary approvals.
The DGCA will issue a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for airlines, focusing on improved communication and passenger facilitation to minimize discomfort arising from flight cancellations and delays due to adverse weather conditions.
Minister Scindia urged travelers to bear with the situation during this challenging period. He stated, “All stakeholders are doing their best to minimize passenger inconvenience. Incidents of unruly behavior in this context are unacceptable and will be dealt with strongly in line with existing legal provisions.”
In the latest weather bulletin, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted dense to very dense fog conditions to persist over north India for the next three days, gradually reducing thereafter.