CAT lighting system project gathers pace at Gaya airport

Gaya: As the AAI is set to receive 18.24 acres of land in the next couple of weeks, the process for the installation of the CAT approach lighting system has gathered momentum at Gaya airport. The CAT approach lighting system provides visual guidance to pilots during low-visibility conditions, enabling safe landings when visibility is poor.It consists of a row of lights extending 900 metres from the runway threshold, with single lights in the inner 300 metres, two in the central 300 metres and three in the outer 300 metres.According to district land acquisition officer Ravindra Ram, the land acquisition process is almost complete and the land will be transferred to the AAI very soon. Earlier on Wednesday, DM Shashank Shubhankar inspected the land proposed to be transferred to the AAI.Asked about the lighting project, Awadhesh Kumar, officiating director of Gaya International Airport, said the work would start soon after the transfer of land is executed.The project is very important for the Bodh Gaya-based hospitality sector as most of the air traffic at Gaya airport takes place in the winter months (Dec-Jan) due to heavy footfall of foreign tourists. Air traffic becomes heavier during rituals and prayers conducted by His Holiness Dalai Lama, the supreme spiritual leader of Buddhists.Operators such as Thai Airways, Thai Air Asia, Drukair, Bhutan Airlines and Myanmar Airlines operate regular flights between Gaya and Bangkok, Paro and Yangon in the winter months. Besides scheduled flights, operators also arrange chartered services from several countries, including South Korea.According to domain experts, it is during Dec-Jan the visibility issue frequently arises, leading to flight delays and related problems. There have been incidents when passengers created a ruckus over delays, and the installation of the CAT lighting system may help address issues related to landing and take-off during low-visibility hours.Runway expansion remains another major issue hampering the growth of Gaya International Airport. At present, the runway is 2,286 metres long and 45 metres wide. It needs to be at least 500 metres longer to accommodate wide-body aircraft, while the width requires an increase of at least 15 metres. Airlines across the world are gradually phasing out narrow-body planes. More than 100 acres of land is required for the expansion.Asked about land acquisition for runway expansion, the district land acquisition officer said litigation has delayed the process. He was not in a position to give any timeframe on the issue, said Ravindra Ram.