Surat Airport Struggles for Recognition as PM Modi Inaugurates Rajkot International Airport

Surat : When Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rajkot International Airport amidst the jubilation on Thursday, a citizen forum representing Surat airport raises its concerns over the lack of infrastructural facilities that could potentially hinder the progress and international connectivity.

A City with Numerous Tags but Lack of Infrastructural Facilities:

Surat boasts an impressive list of tags, including the 8th/9th largest city, fastest-growing, textile and diamond city, financial capital of Gujarat, and more. Despite these accolades, the city finds itself begging for infrastructural facilities that it should have had decades ago, leaving citizens and airport representatives disheartened.

Surat Airport’s Long-Standing Struggles:

A senior member of the citizen forum, We Work for a Working Airport at Surat (WWWAS), EH Pathan, expressed his personal feelings in an open letter shared via Whatsapp broadcast. The city has faced hurdles in obtaining essential facilities such as 24×7 airport operation, international status, inclusion in the Point of Call, direct check-in for international destinations through domestic flights, and becoming an embarkation point for Haj pilgrims.

The Elusive Green Field Airport and Expansion Challenges:

Despite being the second-largest city in Gujarat, Surat faces an unfortunate lack of land availability for future greenfield airport projects. Additionally, obstacles, such as the ONGC gas line crossing the runway alignment, hinder the possibility of expansion. While the Central Government plans to establish greenfield airports in the future, Surat’s future airport prospects seem uncertain.

Air India’s Historic Presence:

Surat’s struggle to secure its position on the aviation map is not new. In 2015, the city celebrated the arrival of Airbus operations by Air India, made possible through the bank guarantee provided by the then Member of Parliament (MP) from Navsari parliamentary constituency, CR Paatil, who is now the Gujarat BJP president. This achievement was a turning point for Surat and its residents, but further challenges lay ahead.

Persistent Struggles for Recognition:

The path to recognition has been fraught with obstacles for Surat airport. The city had to fight to attain custom notified airport status and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) presence. Currently, a small 8-acre piece of land is the subject of contention for installing CAT (Common Amenities Terminal). Each milestone has necessitated letters from Citizen Forums to various authorities, leading to growing concerns about discrimination against Surat.

SDB’s Silence on Airport Connectivity:

While the excitement builds for the inauguration of the Surat Diamond Bourse, concerns linger about the management’s silence regarding Surat airport’s international connectivity. With the SDB expected to attract international buyers and traders, the lack of seamless connectivity at Surat airport could potentially hinder the exchange’s success.

As the nation anticipates the grand inauguration of the Surat Diamond Bourse by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the city’s airport continues to fight for the recognition and infrastructural facilities it rightfully deserves. Surat’s citizens and representatives hope that their concerns will be addressed, ensuring that the city’s airport becomes a pivotal gateway for international traders and visitors, thereby reinforcing Surat’s position as a thriving economic hub on the global stage.