Surat, 12 November 2014

CCTV cameras were off, 320 meter area was without fencing, 175 meter long wall was collapsed, jungle of man size tall weed covering over 250 ha area, lights on runway were off, position of senior manager in electrical department was vacant, 19 ‘tabela’ for buffalo were operating outside the airport wall, people used to climb wall of airport to see flying aircraft, auto alarming system in case of fire or accident was not functional!

These are some of the findings of DGCA team which is visiting Surat airport after an accident of Spice Jet plane with buffalo during take-off last week.

It is not a matter of surprise that Airport Director SD Sharma has been transferred today. He has been shifted to Assam’s Balabara airport. This transfer is being seen as punishment. Sharma is replaced with Bhavnagar airport director Mr. Thakre.

Sharma faces allegations that he spent money to make his AC chamber better but didn’t spend money for removal of weed, or to arrange better security. A 175 meter long wall was collapsed following year 2006 flood, but no care was taken to repair it.

As Surat airport was incurring monthly Rs. 1 crore loss, the Congress-led UPA government had replaced Central Industrial Security Force(CISF) with Border Security Force(BSF) as cost cutting measure. Not only this but the central government later asked Gujarat government to arrange security at the airport, following which CRPF was replaced with State Reserve Police(SRP). Even Surat City police had allotted five constables and a police inspector for airport security.

Surat airport is presently witnessing major correction process which involves DGCA, local police, collector, city municipal corporation, airport authority of India and other authorities.While collector has asked to remove weed, babuls and bushes, the Surat Municipal Corporation has forced ‘tabelas’ to close their business in airport areas. Buffaloes are being searched even by using helicopters and caught and caged. On Tuesday itself four more buffaloes were caught.

On Wednesday, local police conducted mock drill.

Meanwhile there’s a fear that private airline Spice Jet may permanently leave Surat airport and withdraw its staff from the airport after accident of its aircraft with buffalo on runway. Spice Jet has already suspended its Surat-New Delhi-Kolkata flight for indefinite period. Spice Jet has also stopped operation of Surat-Mumbai-Bangalore flight. With this, the only flight left at Surat airport of Surat-Delhi Air India flight which operates thrice in week.