Runway rotation plan in place at IGI for noise abatement: Govt

Runway rotation plan has been put in place at the international airport here for noise abatement, the government said today.
It has been implemented by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to "achieve a balanced distribution of noise exposure for the areas located below the flight paths of aircraft", Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha told the Lok Sabha.
Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport in the national capital is among the busiest in the country, with around 1,100 flight movements every day.
"As per the Runway Use Plan for Noise Abatement at IGI airport, two runways of the airport are used only for departure from 2301 hours to 0300 hours and from 0301 hours to 0600 hours on rotation basis," Sinha said in a written reply.

According to him, runway capacity of the airport is reduced from 2301 hours to 0600 hours due to non-availability of all runways.
"However, the overall impact is minimal as the traffic demand is comparatively less during this period," he added.

In a separate written reply, Sinha said one full body scanner has been installed at the IGI airport here on trial basis for performance evaluation from security point of view.
He also noted that no plan for installation of full body scanners has been formulated till now for other major international airports in the country.
To a separate query about streamlining immigration procedures at airports, Sinha said review and upgradation of immigration procedure/policy is a continuous process.

Among others, 690 posts have been sanctioned in the Bureau of Immigration to facilitate smooth functioning of immigration at airports/seaports.
"For simplification in immigration procedure, a Note of Liberalisation, simplification and rationalisation of visa regime in India has recently been approved by the Cabinet," the minister said.