Latest news with #JayprakashNarayanInternationalAirport
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Bomb threat email triggers security drill at city airport
1 2 P atna: A fresh bomb threat email received late on Friday prompted authorities at Jayprakash Narayan International Airport in Patna to initiate a full-scale security response. After a comprehensive search by different agencies, the threat was declared a hoax. The email, addressed to the airport director and received at 9.09pm, claimed that explosives had been planted on airport premises. Sent from the ID 'pk_nawas@ the message was noticed by officials at 9.50pm. A meeting of the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) was held and by 11pm, the committee had categorised the threat as non-specific. Relevant stakeholders were informed and security measures were promptly implemented. All areas of the airport were searched thoroughly by security agencies, but no suspicious items were found. Surveillance has since been intensified at the airport. Patna SP (central), Diksha, said, "The investigation revealed that the threat was a hoax and lacked specific details. Technical teams are working to identify the source by tracking the IP address of the email sender. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Upto 15% Discount for Salaried Individuals ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo The investigation is underway and a case was registered at the airport police station." The incident follows a similar pattern of threats targeting the airport in recent weeks. On June 29, the airport director received another bomb threat email. Security personnel from the CISF, bomb detection squad, local police and Airports Authority of India (AAI) carried out detailed checks, but no threat was found. Earlier, on June 4, a Patna-bound IndiGo flight from Ahmedabad received a bomb threat during its journey. The aircraft landed safely and was searched thoroughly for over an hour with no suspicious findings. Amit Kumar, in charge of the airport police station, said an entry had been made in their records, though the case has been transferred to the cyber police station. "At present, the location of the person who sent the mail has not been found. Investigation is going on," he added.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Time of India
False bomb threat triggers massive security check at Patna airport
Patna: The Jayprakash Narayan International Airport witnessed another false bomb threat in less than a month, leading security forces to conduct comprehensive inspections throughout the premises. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Security personnel from CISF, the bomb detection squad, police officers, and Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials carried out detailed searches of the airport after receiving an email threatening to detonate explosives on the premises. The threatening message, received by the airport director early on June 29, stated that explosive devices were concealed around the airport premises. Subsequently, airport authorities convened an urgent meeting with airline representatives and security officials, followed by an extensive search operation of the premises. The threat later turned out to be a hoax. A case was registered at the airport police station on the written application of the airport's security officer, Bikki Singh, following which the investigation began. According to sources, this threatening email was sent through an Estonian email service company. "The accused who sent the email has not been caught yet. Investigation is underway to trace the origin of the email. The technical cell of the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) is also engaged in collecting technical evidence to identify the sender's location and digital footprints," the station house officer (SHO) Amit Kumar said, adding that security has been beefed up at the city airport. Kumar said the email was received around 1.30am by the airport director, which he saw around 6am. "The search was conducted, but no suspicious object or person was found at the airport premises," the SHO said. On June 4, a Patna-bound IndiGo flight from Ahmedabad received a bomb threat, which landed safely at Patna airport. The aircraft was searched thoroughly for an hour, but nothing suspicious was found.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Patna airport faces safety risks amid urban sprawl & natural obstacles
1 2 Patna: The tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad has rekindled long-standing fears over the precarious nature of operations at Patna's Jayprakash Narayan International Airport, a facility so tightly hemmed in by urban sprawl and natural constraints that even seasoned pilots concede it offers almost no margin for error. Tucked between the lush, wildlife-rich Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park (better known as Patna zoo) to the east and the railway corridor of Phulwarisharif to the west, the airport is, by all accounts, flying on the edge. Its geographical squeeze is more than a cartographic inconvenience – it is a hazard. Short runways, tall trees, electric cables, a looming British-era clock tower and erratic light sources such as DJ laser beams during weddings all conspire to make every landing and take-off a potential challenge. "The airport is surrounded by thick settlement, making it one of the most challenging for take-offs and landings," an aviation official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The short runway only adds to the difficulty," he added. Despite being operationally critical for Bihar, the airport continues to run on borrowed time. Runway expansion has long been discussed, but actual action remains elusive. In the wake of the June 12 AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad, which sent shockwaves across the country, officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the district administration inspected Patna airport to examine possibilities for runway extension. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo A proposal has been drawn up yet again, but those on the ground remain sceptical. "We have heard promises before," said an airport official. "But the challenges we face demand more than paperwork and inspections," he added. Standing at 49.5 metres tall, the iconic clock tower near the Old Secretariat, built in 1917, poses a major hurdle for approaching aircraft. "It eats into our usable runway length," said Krishna Mohan Nehra, Patna's airport director. While the runway officially stretches 2,072 metres, pilots are forced to work with only 1,938 metres from the east and just 1,677 metres from the west due to the tower's presence. Nehra said the tower disrupts the standard three-degree landing approach, forcing aircraft to descend at steeper angles of up to 3.5 degrees which is risky, especially in poor weather. The Airport Environment Management Committee (AEMC), chaired by divisional commissioner Chandrashekhar Singh, has recommended reducing the tower's height by 17.5 metres. The proposal now awaits cabinet secretariat approval. "Pilots often have to go around again due to incorrect approach angles caused by the tower," an official added. Patna's airstrip is nearly 750 feet shorter than the 2,300 metres recommended by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for safe operation of commercial jets like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. In fact, Patna was one of four airports flagged in 2010 by the Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council (CASAC) for critical safety limitations. The latest expansion proposal includes acquiring 37 acres to the east – 15 acres of which belong to the Patna zoo – and 200 metres of land towards the west, near the railway line in Phulwarisharif. District officials are eyeing sites near the Patna Golf Club to compensate the zoo for any lost land. Rajender Singh Lahauria, former airport director, supports the relocation of the zoo altogether. "The zoo director back then felt the airport operations were affecting animal breeding. Shifting the zoo and govt bungalows would make runway extension viable," he said. However, Lahauria cautioned that western expansion won't benefit landing distances due to the railway traction lines but could help with take-offs. "The real game-changer would be reducing the clock tower's height, but historically the AAI hasn't received a positive response from the state," he added. Lahauria said in 2016, a proposal was sent at his time to reduce the clock tower height by 11.5-m and land acquisition for runway extension, but nothing was done. Arvind Kumar Singh, secretary of Patna Golf Club, said they have a lease of 102.8acres of land out of which 20acres is "encroached" by zoo. "The club does not in any way interfere with flight safety funnel. Golf Club has been declared as a green belt with multiple heritage trees of over 70/80 years old. The Golf Club has given national level golfers creating a good image of emerging Bihar. We have plans to further upgrade the facility but if they take another 15-acre land, then how can we do it?" he asked. According to AAI officials, even the western extension is fraught with problems. "We can only extend by 120 metres towards Phulwarisharif. But even that will be largely unusable. There must be at least 150 metres between the runway's centreline and the railway track. Currently, we only have 70 metres and an extension would reduce it to just 39," one official said. High-tension wires along the railway line further complicate the possibility of creating a slope. Efforts to move the railway line underground were ruled out after a RITES feasibility study. "There is simply no scope westward," the official said. The eastern approach is equally complex. "When pilots land from the east, the first thing they see are tree canopies, not the runway," another official said. "Beyond the zoo, new multi-storey buildings could emerge as future obstructions. We have only surveyed within our jurisdiction, but even now, we can't use the full 2,072 metres," he added. Tree growth at the zoo poses a persistent safety threat. Regular pruning, officials say, is either delayed or ignored. At a recent AEMC meeting, the airport director stressed the urgency of compliance with the Obstacle Limitation Survey under the Aircraft Act, 1934. The forest department has been instructed to take immediate action. "Tree growth is natural, and so should be its management," said Arvind Dubey, former director of the airport. "We need the state's cooperation to ensure aircraft safety. Passenger facilities have improved, but operational safety must follow," he added. Another growing concern is the menace of laser lights from wedding venues. On April 17 this year, an IndiGo flight (6E-653) from Pune was temporarily blinded by a DJ laser beam during its approach to Patna. While the pilot managed a safe landing, the potential consequences could have been catastrophic. Following the incident, authorities banned laser lights in the airport vicinity, requiring prior police clearance for DJs and sound systems at public events. Yet enforcement remains patchy. "Laser distractions during peak wedding season can be fatal," airport officials said. Though bird-hit incidents have decreased due to tighter controls on open meat and fish shops in Phulwarisharif, danger still looms large, thanks to the nearby garbage transfer station at Gardanibagh. Only 800 metres from the airport, the site attracts birds and poses a serious threat. Divisional commissioner Singh said that a new dumping site is being constructed at Yarpur and is expected to be operational by Aug 15. "Proper waste disposal near the airport is crucial for safety," he said. This year, Patna airport has already reported seven bird-hit incidents, three of which occurred in May alone. The Ahmedabad crash also revived haunting memories of Patna's own aviation tragedy. On July 17, 2000, Alliance Air flight 7412 ploughed through a residential colony in Gardanibagh, killing over 60 people. Naveen Singh, a local, still remembers it vividly. "I was at the airport when it happened. I rushed to the site. It's an image I can't erase," he said. Akhilesh Choudhary, a 62-year-old resident of Gardanibagh, said, "The sound of aircraft engines still fills us with dread. After Ahmedabad, those old fears have returned. The authorities must take action for us and for the pilots." Ultimately, many aviation experts believe that only a greenfield airport can address Patna's aviation challenges comprehensively. "We are working within impossible constraints," said an AAI official. "The land is limited, the obstructions are permanent and the risks are real," he added.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Reserved auto services begin at city airport with new rules
Patna: Reserved autorickshaw services officially began operating from Patna's Jayprakash Narayan International Airport on Friday. The pick-up and drop-off facilities are now available at the airport's multi-parking area. Until now, autorickshaws were not permitted to enter the airport premises. Under the new arrangement, drivers may enter through the old gate, drop off passengers at the designated multi-parking zone and exit through the same gate. The service is regulated with a set of new rules – all drivers must follow a prescribed dress code, carry ID cards verified by their association and have their full details recorded with both the association and airport authorities. The service was inaugurated by Rajkumar Jha, general secretary of the All India Road Transport Workers Federation (Bihar), who highlighted the need for evolving with the times. "Drivers serving airport routes will receive English language training to better assist foreign travellers and non-Hindi speaking passengers from other states. A prepaid booth will be set up soon. Until then, drivers will carry placards to attract passengers," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Abingdon: If You Were Born Between 1945-1974 You Could Be Eligible For This British Seniors Read More Undo Pappu Yadav, president of the Patna District Autorickshaw Drivers' Association, expressed thanks to the airport director for understanding the drivers' needs and allowing operations from the parking area. "This is a major step in enhancing airport transport facilities while ensuring passenger safety and convenience," he said. The event was attended by several association members and officials, including Mohammad, Mumtaz, Manish Kumar, Pradeep Kumar and parking contractor representative Ram Sundar Prasad Singh, also known as Bauwa Ji.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
City airport runway likely to be extended at both ends
1 2 Patna: Plans are afoot to extend the runway at Patna's Jayprakash Narayan International Airport at both ends to resolve longstanding operational challenges and bring the facility up to international standards. The district administration is examining the feasibility of extending the airstrip eastwards towards Patna zoo and westwards towards the railway line. Patna divisional commissioner Chandrashekhar Singh, who chaired a meeting of the Airport Environment Management Committee on Monday, said, "The short runway at Patna airport poses landing difficulties. The runway length needs to be increased to meet international standards." He added that a 200-metre extension with a 300-metre width towards Phulwarisharif is being considered as there is vacant govt land in that direction which had been leased to a company. "Besides, a 500-metre extension towards Patna coo is possible if we get around 15 acres of land to the east side. The district administration can provide an additional 15 acres to the zoo from the west, which belongs to Patna Golf Club, a govt property spread over 102 acres," Singh said. He added that the eastern expansion would require converting the existing 700-metre road running from Patna zoo Gate 2 to IAS Bhawan into an underground passage. The Patna district magistrate will submit a proposal to the cabinet secretariat department, incorporating all considerations. Highlighting another obstacle, Patna airport director Krishna Mohan Nehra said the height of the Old Secretariat's clock tower was a major concern. "Currently, the tower is 49.5 metres tall and affects the use of 134 metres of the runway. Due to this, the standard landing angle of three degrees cannot be maintained and aircraft are forced to land at steeper angles of 3.25 to 3.5 degrees," he said. Reducing the tower's height by 17.5 metres would allow for standard landings and optimal runway usage. Singh said the Patna DM would obtain a formal proposal from airport authorities regarding the height reduction and submit it to the cabinet secretariat department for a govt decision. To enhance airside safety, Singh directed Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials to ensure proper waste disposal near the airport. PMC informed the committee that the secondary waste collection point at Gardanibagh would be shifted to Yarpur as the new facility is expected to be operational by Aug 15. The commissioner also stressed the need for continuous monitoring and legal action against open meat and fish shops, citing their threat to both aircraft and public health. "Reducing bird attraction sources near Patna airport is essential to avoid bird hit incidents," he said. The airport director added that shops in Phulwarisharif have been removed for safety reasons and campaigns are on to regulate meat shops, manage waste and prune trees regularly. Singh asked the forest officials to remove obstacles and trim trees as per the Obstacle Limitation Survey under the Aircraft Act, 1934. He also directed the installation of CAT-I lights, commissioning of the DVOR system and regular removal of stray dogs from airport premises. The meeting was attended by the Patna DM Thiyagarajan SM, traffic SP Aparajit Lohan and officials from PMC, forest division, Patna zoo, Patna airport and the Danapur railway division.
