JAMNAGAR- Jamnagar, situated as the fifth largest city in Gujarat, south of the Gulf of Kutch, has long been renowned for hosting the world’s largest oil refinery and petrochemical complex.
The tranquil township of Reliance Industries has recently transformed into a lively hub, thanks to an Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant pre-wedding celebration that has attracted prominent individuals from around the globe.
Ambani Family Wedding Private Jets Rush
Despite being a civil enclave within an Indian Air Force base without parking space, the airport handles an estimated 400 charter flights between Friday and Monday. This surge in activity is a result of the extravagant celebrations preceding the July wedding of Anant, the youngest son of RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani, to his fiancée Radhika Merchant.
On Friday, the Airport Director, Dhananjay Kumar Singh, informed Business Standard that there was a need to reinforce ground handling and security staff to accommodate the substantial surge in air traffic demand.
Authorities faced an extensive to-do list, which included establishing a temporary Customs, immigration, and quarantine counter, along with completing renovation and beautification tasks—all within the last 45 days or so.
The 400-plus charter flights transport a distinguished guest list ranging from business magnates to global political figures and entertainment celebrities. The attendee lineup in Jamnagar rivals the annual Davos meet.
It includes notable names like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Fink, Gautam Adani, N Chandrasekaran, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Ajay Piramal, Rihanna, Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, and Sachin Tendulkar. These personalities have descended upon the coastal city, located around 300 km from Gandhinagar, Gujarat’s capital.
According to Singh, given the limited parking space at Jamnagar airport, charter planes are being stationed at nearby airports such as Rajkot, Porbandar, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai.
On Friday, Jamnagar Airport was slated to manage 140 charter flight movements, comprising 70 departures and 70 arrivals, with approximately 50% of the planes arriving from international locations.
Spotters Delight: VVIP Charter Planes
Over the upcoming weekend, specifically on Saturday and Sunday, the airport is anticipated to manage 90 and 70 charter flight movements, respectively. On March 4, the airport is projected to handle over 100 flight movements as many VVIPs are expected to depart on that day.
Notably, SpiceJet has conducted two cargo flights from Dubai to Jamnagar, transporting special food for the VVIPs. To accommodate the extraordinary influx of passengers, a temporary Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) facility was established at Jamnagar airport on February 25, remaining operational until March 6.
Ground handling agencies, including AI Airport Services Limited (AIASL), have enlisted an additional 100 personnel from airports like Ahmedabad and Mumbai to manage the increased traffic, as highlighted by Singh.
Given that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has a limited staff of 10-15 employees handling air traffic control (ATC) services, additional personnel have been brought in to assist with the heightened air traffic.
It’s worth noting that the operational area falls under the jurisdiction of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Limited Staff and Daily Operations
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has augmented its staff, which initially comprised 10-15 employees overseeing air traffic control (ATC) services, to manage the increased traffic better. The operational jurisdiction falls under the Indian Air Force (IAF).
At Jamnagar airport, security responsibilities, typically handled by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), are now entrusted to security personnel (police officers) provided by the Gujarat government. According to Singh, the state government has bolstered the usual count of around 35 security staff at this airport to approximately 60.
As part of the beautification efforts for the building, there is a focus on showcasing Gujarat’s heritage using the Bandhani pattern. On the city side, beautification primarily involves the planting of trees.
Under usual circumstances, the Jamnagar airport handles only six scheduled flight movements per day. Air India operates two connecting to and from Mumbai, while Star Air manages the remaining four flights between Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
The city of Gujarat is still in a state of transition, and it may take some time before returning to normalcy.
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