Allahabad Airport

Allahabad Airport

इलाहाबाद हवाई अड्डा
الٰہ آباد ہوائی اڈا

Airport terminal
IATA: IXDICAO: VEAB (formerly VIAL)
Summary
Airport type Military/Public (Domestic Airport)
Owner Indian Air Force
Operator Airports Authority of India / Indian Armed Forces
Serves Allahabad
Elevation AMSL 322 ft / 98 m
Coordinates 25°26′24″N 81°44′02″E / 25.44000°N 81.73389°E / 25.44000; 81.73389Coordinates: 25°26′24″N 81°44′02″E / 25.44000°N 81.73389°E / 25.44000; 81.73389
Map
Allahabad Airport

Location in Uttar Pradesh

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
06/24 4,800 1,463 Concrete
12/30 8,400 2,472 Asphalt

Allahabad Airport or Bamrauli Airport (IATA: IXD, ICAO: VEAB) is located at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is at a distance of 12 km (7.5 mi) from Allahabad city and is operational for domestic flights. Nearest other operational airports are Lucknow, Varanasi and Kanpur. Currently, only Air India Regional operate from here, Air India operates 2 direct flights. There are daily flights from Allahabad to Delhi and flights on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to Mumbai. Air India's subsidiary Alliance Air has started operating on the Allahabad-Mumbai sector from 9 September 2013.[1][2]

Allahabad Airport was built in 1919[3] and served as an international airport till 1946 with direct flights to London till 1932.[4][5] Commuters usually fly from Lucknow International Airport or Varanasi International Airport which are 200 km and 120 km respectively, for further connectivity. The airport currently does not have Instrument landing facility, However, ILS system is being planned for installation for which survey was done by AAI team in 2013 April and IAF team in 2014 May, as a part of upgrading the airport By IAF/AAI. The Airport has VOR (Very High Frequency Omni Range) and DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) installed by AAI as part of an upgrade in 2011.

Structure

Allahabad airport's area is 1 acre (4000 square metres), the terminal's capacity being 72, for both arrival and departure. It is a civil enclave managed by Airports Authority of India, under the control of Civil Aviation Training College, Bamrauli. The adjoining concrete apron measures 500 by 150 metres, and has 2 parking bays to cater to 1 CRJ and 1 Q400 aircraft simultaneously being maintained by IAF. Allahabad's runway is oriented 12/30, is 8400 feet long and 150 feet wide. The Airfield has ground lighting facility, which is to be upgraded and also equipped with Navigational facilities like DVOR/DME.[6]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Air India Regional Delhi
Aer Lingus Dublin
Aer Lingus
operated by ASL Airlines Ireland
Shannon
Aeroflot Moscow–Sheremetyevo
Aerolíneas Argentinas Buenos Aires–Ezeiza
Aeroméxico Cancún, Mexico City
Aeroméxico Connect Monterrey
Air Berlin Berlin–Tegel, Düsseldorf
Air China Beijing–Capital

Extension and upgradation plan

There is constant effort by the aviation ministry to extend and upgrade the Allahabad airport. Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ajit Singh has requested Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to transfer 50 acres of identified land in Allahabad to Airports Authority of India (AAI) to develop a new Civil Enclave to handle civil airport operations in the city. In a letter written to it was stated that given the lack of space, AAI is not able to upgrade the Civil Enclave of Bamrauli Airport at Allahabad as the airport belongs to Indian Air Force. Ajit Singh further wrote that the AAI has already made a preliminary study of the surroundings of the airport area and discussed with the Indian Air Force. The site measuring approximately 50 acres has been identified south of the airfield for development of a new civil enclave. The new civil enclave will include a new terminal building, an apron to park civil schedule flights, link taxi track, car parks, etc. The letter further states that in case of any difficulty in acquisition and transfer of identified land, an alternative location having an area of 50 acres may be acquired and handed over to AAI at the earliest, as a number of representations have been received for development of the airport.[7]

Pointing out that Allahabad is one of the major cities of Uttar Pradesh and also has significant potential to enhance religious tourism, it is pertinent to mention that the development of Bamrauli Airport will go a long way in development of eastern region of the State and also adjoining areas of Madhya Pradesh in view of development of tourist centre at kaushambi district, Allahabad airport may witness a surge of foreign tourist movement which currently being catered by Varanasi airport.

A civil enclave at Bamrauli, spread over 75 acres, has also been sanctioned in February 2016 by the state government with the cost of Rs290 Crore.This enclave will also act as a domestic terminal with facilities for passengers.[8]

Central Air Command

IAF Sukhoi Su-30 combat aircraft

The Central Air Command is one of the five operational commands of the Indian Air Force. Currently headquartered in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, it had its beginning as No 1 Operational Group on 27 May 1958 at Ranikutir in Calcutta as a part of the Govt's increasing emphasis on defence of the eastern borders. Reorganisation of this Operational Group was created this command on 19 March 1962 with headquarters at Rani Kuthee, Calcutta(now Kolkata). Calcutta was considered inappropriate location for the Central Air Command Headquarters and it was relocated at Allahabad in February 1966. Central Air Command controls air operations in all of central India, from Delhi to Bengal. This command was reduced in size with the establishment of the Southern Air Command.

The Command features permanent airbases at Agra, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Allahabad, Gwalior, Nagpur and Kanpur. Central Air Command features air defence squadrons consisting of the Mirage 2000 and the MiG-21. It is the main transport command with aircraft like the IAF's workhorse – the An-32, the long range heavy lift IL-76MD and the Dornier Do-228 which are used in the utility role. CAC also has helicopter squadrons like the Mi-8 Hip & Mi-17 Hip and the heavy lift, Mi-26 Halo

See also

References

External links

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