The Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar is preparing to resume operations awaiting a final nod from the Centre towards the end of the lockdown. The airport in Odisha’s capital city will work in a single shift each day, once the extended lockdown is lifted on May 3.
Airport Director (Bhubaneswar) VV Rao said on Thursday that the resumption of flight services, both domestic and international, is subject to clear instructions from the Centre in this regard. The airport will operate each day from 10 am to 6 pm, added Rao.
“We had a discussion with airlines, CISF and others regarding the preparation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI),” VV Rao said. He further stated that the airport will handle 16 flights with two flights each hour in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and the Civil Aviation Ministry.
Referring to preventive measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, Rao said that special guidelines will be issued by the airport management to ensure the safety of passengers and the staff. “We have to maintain physical distancing between passengers and proper markings will be required for that purpose. The seating has to be reoriented to maintain a distance of 1-1.5 meters between persons inside the airport,” said VV Rao.
While sanitation measures have been intensified inside the Biju Patnaik International Airport, trolleys and boxes will be thoroughly cleaned once operations resume. Director Rao said that movable washbasins will be installed across the airport to ensure constant hand washing.
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