Surat Airport’s Operational Challenges Highlighted in Activist’s Letter to Aviation Minister

Surat : Surat Airport, hailed as an international airport since December 2023, is grappling with infrastructure deficiencies that hinder its functionality and growth potential. In a detailed letter to Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu, airport activist Rajesh Modi outlined the critical challenges facing the airport, urging immediate intervention by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

The airport’s expanded terminal building, inaugurated with fanfare by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 17, 2023, raised expectations for Surat’s aviation prospects. However, as Rajesh Modi points out, the current state of operations reveals a stark contrast to the promises made during the inauguration.

Key Infrastructure Issue

Design Flaws in the Terminal Building

The expanded terminal, envisioned to accommodate domestic and international flights, suffers from poorly designed passenger movement areas. This flaw prevents simultaneous operations, violating International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) norms. Consequently, the airport’s growth potential is significantly constrained.

Unutilized Commercial Spaces

Despite a year since the terminal expansion, retail and food stalls remain unoccupied. The international departure area, in particular, lacks permanent food outlets, forcing passengers to rely on makeshift arrangements with limited options.

Safety and Emergency Concerns

Modi’s letter emphasizes the lack of a finalized emergency exit plan in both the expanded and old terminal buildings, posing a significant safety risk. Smoking boxes, constructed but not operational, add to passenger inconvenience and present potential fire hazards.

Delays in Parallel Taxi Track (PTT) Construction

The construction of the Parallel Taxi Track (PTT) Phase II project has dragged on for nearly five years. The sluggish progress suggests the project may not be completed before December 2025, affecting runway efficiency and overall airport operations.

Passenger Growth vs. Infrastructure Bottlenecks

Surat Airport, which handled over 1.5 million passengers in 2024 (till November), has the potential to reach 2.5 million passengers by 2025-26. However, the inadequacies in its infrastructure remain a critical bottleneck, preventing the airport from meeting its growing demand.