Develop aviation park at Amritsar airport: Experts

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 4

Tourism experts demanded developing of an aviation park at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International (SGRDJI) Airport. Aviation parks are quite famous overseas and are a hit with tourists.

The SGRDJI airport is well poised for this added feature as it had consistently recorded the highest footfall. For instance, it recorded 29.1 per cent rise in passenger footfall in August as compared to July, as per the Airport Authority of India (AAI). The biggest rise of 41.3 per cent was recorded in domestic passengers.

Kulwant Singh Ankhi, retired principal, said after the government relaxed flying norms in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, number of domestic passengers had increased to 31,652 in August from 22,389 in July. The number of domestic aircraft movements had also increased from 266 in July to 376 in August.

Similarly, the total number of international aircraft moments increased from 58 in July to 83 in August. Thus all these figures point towards ample flow of passengers.

Rameshinder Singh Sandhu, a freelance travel writer, said, “Gurdwara, which sits right between a taxiway and runway is also an attraction, but a lot more can be done. Setting up of an aviation park for enthusiasts, guided tours and exhibitions, among others can be held at the airport.”

There are many airports, which have an aviation park outside the airport for tourists and locals, including Flight Path Park at Vancouver Airport and Runway Park at Manchester Airport, said Sandhu.

“San Francisco Airport has a culture of exhibitions to humanise the airport. Zurich, Frankfurt, Brisbane, Sydney and Christchurch airports offer free/paid airport tours every weekend.

These moves would offer another way of earning for the airport authorities.

Vipin Kant Seth, Director, Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport, said it was a fabulous idea, which would add value to the airport. He said the persons concerned could meet him and identify the suitable site. He added that he would forward the proposal to his seniors as well.

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