Visakhapatnam: Airspace will be partially closed for commercial flights for at least four days in this week owing to the Indian Navy’s upcoming mega event- International Fleet Review (IFR). Accordingly, Airlines have rescheduled their flights timings. Airlines are also asking the passengers to report earlier than the normal timinings for check in due to high security alert and congestion due to IFR.
“Dear customer, due to high security alert and congestion at airport, please expect extra 30 minutes for checkin, security & boarding process. Check in counters will close 60 mts and boarding gate 25 mts prior to the departure. It is recommended to report early in anticipation of delays in the airport. If you are late, we will not wait. Have a pleasant flight,” said an SMS to an air passenger from the Airline office.
Vizag airport director Vinod Kumar Sarma said airspace will be partially closed for commercial operations on Feb. 2, 4, 6 and 7. On Feb. 2, there will be no commercial operations from 9 am to 12.15 pm, on Feb. 4, the airspace will be closed between 9 am to 12.15 pm and alsp 4 pm to 6:30 pm. On Feb. 6, there will not be commercial operations between 9 am and 12.15 pm. On Feb. 7, airspace will be closed between 4 pm and 6.30 pm.
“We have informed all the airlines about the closure of airspace during the week and they have all rescheduled their flight timings. Airlines have to either prepone or postpone the flights as per the air closure schedule given by us. The passengers were also informed regarding the change in the timings of their flights,” Mr Sarma told this newspaper. Vizag has emerged the biggest city in AP after the division of the state and many national and international events have been taking place in the city leading to a surge in air passengers.
Vizag airport operates 26 domestic and four international flights in a day. The number of air passengers from Vizag airport has witnessed a growth of about 35 per cent in the past nine months, from April 2015 to December 2015, as over 11,16,752 passengers travel from Vizag airport. On an average, around 1.45 lakh passengers travel in domestic flights and 10,000 in international flights from Vizag in a month.
Reach exam centres early, students told:
Officials should make all arrangements for the smooth conduct of Intermediate practical examinations, said joint collector-2 D. Venkata Reddy. On Monday, Mr. Reddy reviewed the preparations for the examinations here. As the state government opted to conduct practical examinations in the jumbling system for the first time in AP, Mr. Reddy asked the officials to provide transport and other basic facilities to the students. He also requested the students to start two hours early for the practical examinations, in view of the security restrictions in Visakhapatnam for the IFR. “We urge the students and their parents to reach the practical examination centres early in view of the IFR restrictions and also to carry their hall tickets.” Mr. Reddy added.
Regional Inspection Officer Nagesh Kumar said about 36,993 students would appear for the practical examinations at various exam centres in Visakhapatnam district. Officials from the Board of Intermediate, RTC, police, postal and tribal welfare departments were present at the meeting.
