Closed runway: MIAL spokesperson says first day of reconstruction successful, most operations were normal

As many as 96 machines, including dumpers, hot mixers, pavers, rollers, concrete mixers and bitumen dispensers, took their place at the intersection of the Mumbai airport’s runways on day one of the massive reconstruction work being carried out on its airside on Tuesday as it saw a few flight movements during those hours.

Airport officials also reported that flights were held in the airspace for an average of 20-25 minutes for over an hour twice during the afternoon when the main runway was completely shut and was being prepared for operations before and after work at the intersection. They also disclosed that two flights of Go Air and Jet Airways were diverted to Goa and Ahmedabad airports as they were running out of fuel.

However, the spokesperson of the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) termed the overall operational experience at the airport as successful and maintained that apart from a few significant delays, most of the operations were normal.

No flight movements took place at the airport from 12.07 pm to 1.34 pm and 5 pm to 6.15 pm when the runways were completed closed for shifting the runway operations. According to officials, the operational area on the main runway after the intersection, termed as 27 Alpha, had to be prepared for shortened runway operations. “From 12 noon to 1 pm and 5 pm to 6 pm, the operations are supposed to be completely halted as all equipment, people and other machines are taken to the intersection for the reconstruction work,” the airport’s spokesperson said, describing the sequence of events.

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