Jamnagar Airport’s next challenge: Tackle heavy rush when most celebrities depart on March 4, 5

Among the celebrities, one of the firsts to take a return flight from the airport was pop star Rihanna, who left early Saturday.

The three-day festivities to celebrate the upcoming wedding of Reliance Industries Limited Chairman Mukesh Ambani’s younger son Anant with Encore Healthcare CEO Viren Merchant’s daughter Radhika will conclude on Sunday. From the celebrities on the guest list, over 50 were flying in from abroad.

Speaking to The Indian Express on Saturday, Jamnagar Airport Director Dhananjay Kumar said: “We have operated 40 international flights between February 26 and March 1, after permission for CIQ (Customs, Immigration, Quarantine) was received on February 25, based on a request sent by Reliance Industries, to facilitate international movement.”

“These flights – 20 arrivals and 20 departures – also include cargo flights. The international flights have mostly arrived from the United States, United Kingdom, Paris, Milan, Middle East and Bhutan… Usually, we handle six flights, three arrivals and three departures, per day,” he added.

Singh further said that the major challenge faced by the airport was during the arrival and departure of singer Rihanna. While Rihanna arrived in an Airbus, her staff and luggage arrived on a Boeing 767. “The challenge has been to accommodate all the incoming flights… Rihanna’s flight was specifically challenging, as the flights had to be brought close to the terminal,” he added.

Maintaining that disembarking passengers and ground handling has been a challenge, Singh said: “We have deployed support staff from Ahmedabad and Rajkot airports to increase manpower for ground handling, housekeeping and immigration services… While the Air Traffic Control and the runway belong to the Air Force, the AAI runs the terminal building, the parking bay for aircraft as well as the parking area outside the terminal.”

Singh said that given the dearth of parking space, the aircraft are either being parked in Rajkot or Ahmedabad airport terminals or are “flying back”.

The Jamnagar district police, meanwhile, has deployed additional security to ensure law and order across Jamnagar during the VVIP movement. While police personnel from other districts have also been deployed, Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad is inspecting the airport thrice every day.

A Quick Response Team is on stand by.

Jamnagar Superintendent of Police P S Delu said deployed 1,500 personnel have been deployed in Jamnagar, among whom 600 were brought in from other districts. “The 1,500 personnel also include around 500 homeguards… As there is heavy VVIP movement, X, Y or Z category protectees are being assigned escort as per protocol… additional 50 vehicles have been deployed to provide escort facilities,” he added.

Delu further said that the security of the airport has also been increased. “Apart from the passengers, onlookers have also been gathering at the airport to catch a glimpse of the celebrities. We are ensuring that bottlenecks on the national highway that connects Jamnagar airport to the Reliance Township, about 30 km away, are taken care of to prevent traffic jam, as there is heavy vehicular movement.”