Gaya airport director post vacant amid peak tourist season

Gaya: Ever since the transfer of Gaya International Airport director Bangjit Saha to Dibrugarh in the last week of Oct, the post has been lying vacant. The vacuum is being felt more acutely as it is the peak tourist season, during which the airport registers maximum footfall.

The tourist season in Bodh Gaya begins in Oct and ends in March. Only two months of the current season now remain.


Following Saha’s transfer, Awadhesh Kumar is officiating as the director. According to insiders, the absence of a regular director is being felt, as several development, renovation and upgrade issues remain pending and the pace of development leaves much to be desired.

Long ago, it was decided to install the CAT approach light system at the airport to provide visual guidance to pilots during low-visibility conditions. The CAT system is primarily designed to facilitate smooth landings and take-offs during fog. Between mid-Dec and the end of Jan, fog severely affects flight operations in Gaya, but the benefits of the CAT approach light system were not available this season.

An additional 18 acres of land is required for the installation of the CAT approach light system.

Besides this, the Instrument Landing System at the airport needs upgrading to improve all-weather operations.

The issue of runway extension has also remained pending for a long time. The existing runway is 2,286 metres long and 30 metres wide and cannot accommodate wide-body aircraft. To facilitate wide-body planes, the runway length needs to be increased by at least 500 metres and widened by another 15 metres.

The airport’s other requirements include expansion of the terminal building, improved passenger amenities, additional aerobridges, expansion of international arrival and departure lounges, and upgrade of immigration, customs and security facilities to meet international standards.

Complaints of airport and airline staff are not very cooperative and courteous. According to Prof Arun Kumar Prasad, the passengers deserve a better treatment at the airport and a more passenger friendly approach was required. In case of delays, the passengers are not properly informed.

Officiating director Awadhesh Kumar said the absence of a regular director in no way affects the functioning of the airport.

However, Jai Singh, president of the Bodh Gaya Hotel Association, alleged that the vacancy at the top level signals neglect of the airport. Echoing this view, Anup Kedia, president of the Magadh Industries Association, demanded the early posting of a regular director.