The Indian government has issued a notice restricting flights at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport from 10:20 am to 12:45 pm until Republic Day, January 26. This measure is a part of the security arrangements for the Republic Day celebrations, an annual event that requires increased security measures. Additionally, the airport will be completely shut down from 6 am to 9 pm on Republic Day itself.
The airspace restrictions will continue until January 26 and will resume on January 29 for the Beating Retreat ceremony at Delhi’s Vijay Chowk. Notably, the restrictions will not apply to helicopter operations of the Air Force, Army, or Border Security Force, and aircraft ferrying the Governor or Chief Minister of a state.
The decision to partially shut down one of the world’s busiest airports has raised concerns about the impact on commercial schedules. This comes after weeks of heavy fog causing disruptions, delays, diversions, and cancellations of numerous flights. The chaos was highlighted by an incident where an irate passenger assaulted an IndiGo flight captain on the Delhi-Goa service after a significant delay of nearly 13 hours.
In response to the ongoing disruptions caused by fog, Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has introduced a six-point action plan to address the challenges faced by domestic and international flights. The plan includes new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for airlines to mitigate passenger inconvenience and the establishment of ‘war rooms’ to better manage operational issues.
India is gearing up to celebrate its 75th Republic Day, with French President Emmanuel Macron slated as the chief guest. This marks the sixth time a French leader has been the guest of honor at the Republic Day parade. The heightened security measures are in line with the significance of the event.
As part of the security preparations, Delhi Police has imposed a ban on the use of paragliders and other flying objects until February 15. The list of prohibited items includes hang gliders, microlight aircraft, unmanned or remotely piloted aircraft, drones, and hot air balloons. Even para jumping or parachuting has been restricted during this period.
In a separate development, Delhi Police’s East District division conducted a mock anti-terror drill at the Akshardham Temple. This exercise aims to evaluate the force’s readiness to respond to diverse crisis situations, further emphasizing the importance of comprehensive security measures in the lead-up to Republic Day.
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