The region of Delhi NCR recently witnessed one of its coldest winters in many years, resulting in heavy fog engulfing the Delhi International Airport. Due to various factors, including fog, the flights got delayed across India creating a mayhem among travellers. Various incidents were reported, including punching an IndiGo pilot, passengers eating on tarmac among other such first-of-kind aviation incidents.
Also read: IndiGo Passengers Eat Food On Tarmac Near Aircraft, Airline Reacts
While many celebrities voiced their concern after facing delays themselves, now Congress MP from Kerala Shashi Tharoor took on to X.com, accusing the Narendra Modi led BJP government of mishandling the situation and not anticipating heavy delays due to inclement weather.
Dr Shashi Tharoor’s Take On Flight Delays
Shashi Tharoor said, “Delhi Airport has been in chaos recently. The young professional wanting to go home for Makar Sankranti. The Army officer excited to visit his ancestral village for Lohri. The anxious son trying to get home to take care of an unwell parent. Thousands of peoples’ lives and schedules have been disrupted by a regular, predictable, foggy winter day. It’s a ModiGovt-made disaster, a result of the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s neglect and incompetence. See the thread that follows.”
1/6 Delhi Airport has been in chaos recently. The young professional wanting to go home for Makar Sankranti. The Army officer excited to visit his ancestral village for Lohri. The anxious son trying to get home to take care of an unwell parent. Thousands of peoples’ lives and…
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 16, 2024
In his 6 part meltdown, he blamed the Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA for not installing CAT-III C landing instrument for foggy conditions and not completing maintenance of one of the critical CAT-III B ready runway. He also blamed a crane installed at the periphery of the Delhi Airport blocking the landing in low visibility.
“In total, Delhi has 4 runways, 2 of which are CAT III-B compliant. In all its wisdom, the Modi government began maintenance work on one of the two CAT III-B runways in September 2023, fully aware that it would not be ready for the winter!” Tharoor mentioned.
He concluded by saying, “Chaos at airports is just one of the results of the Modi government’s chronic mismanagement. Indian Railways has also been struggling as the government reduces the number of sleeper and general coaches, and increases AC coaches, despite the poor economic situation in India.”
6/6 This is just baseless rhetoric.
– Airlines that shut shop/were brought to failure during the UPA rule = Kingfisher, Jet Airways, Air India.
Under the NDA govt, along with Akasa, 5 new regional airlines have taken birth under the PM’s UDAN vision.
– Fleet size has…
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) January 17, 2024
Jyotiraditya Scindia’s Reply On Flight Delays
Now, Civil Aviation Minister of India, Jyotiraditya Scindia has replied on the elaborate “research” of Dr Shashi Tharoor. He blamed the MP for reading select media articles and said, “Here are some actual facts for arm-chair critic @ShashiTharoor and the Cong IT Cell that might help tackle their lack of depth in understanding of technical sectors like civil aviation.”
Further, the minister balmed the pollution in Delhi for delaying the Runway maintenance work, which is a critical safety element for aviation operations. “However, due to pollution incidents and enforcement of GRAP-IV in Delhi, the recarpeting got delayed, resulting in a delay of one month in its commissioning. The revamped RWY is getting operational this week,” Scindia said.
Also read: SpiceJet Passenger Gets Stuck Inside Plane’s Lavatory, Cabin Crew Writes Note
“It would be prudent to know about the 3 dependent factors for CAT III Landings viz. Runway Capability, Aircraft Capability and Pilot Accreditation. And thus, CAT III operations are decided by the Highest Common Factor among the three variables. Further to give you a perspective, JFK ( New York ) airport in the USA has 4 runways, but the airport only has 1 runway capable of CAT III landing which is also with a restricted minima up to 182 mtrs (600 feet) – 3.5 times of India’s 50 mtrs!,” the minister added.
On the mistreatment of passengers, he said, “The treatment meted out to the passengers in the instant case was unacceptable, and we have acted immediately in the form of a show cause notice to the concerned operators. Further, SOPs for better communication to passengers were also issued. Implementation is being monitored thrice daily.”
Concluding his argument, Jyotiraditya Scindia said, “This is just baseless rhetoric. Airlines that shut shop/were brought to failure during the UPA rule = Kingfisher, Jet Airways, Air India. Under the NDA govt, along with Akasa, 5 new regional airlines have taken birth under the PM’s UDAN vision.
Fleet size has increased from 400 in 2014 to 730 today, and will reach 1,500 – 2,000 by 2030. Airports have doubled from 74 in the last 65 years to 149 today. This will reach 220 in the next 3-4 years. Hope you are better informed now, Mr @ShashiTharoor!”
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