Hopes for development of the Bhubaneswar airport run high as Suresh Chandra Hota, IAP, has taken over the Biju Pattnaik International Airport as its Director since April 27, 2017. With him, the airport has got its first Odia director. An expert by education and training and a workaholic by temperament, Hota is credited with 30 years of rich experience, splendid craftsmanship and repository wisdom in the field of aviation. A son of the soil hailing from Sambalpur, he has an enviable academic record. Having a Post-Graduate degree in Physics from the Sambalpur University, he had opened his innings as Aerodrome Officer in the National Airports Authority in 1987. A seasoned air traffic controller, Hota specialises in Air Traffic Services, PANS OPS, Annex 14, ISO Audit, Airside Management, Bird Hazard Control and NOC for Height Clearance, Customer Satisfaction and Airport Administration Operations and Management. On climbing the hierarchical ladder, Hota was finally asked to join the lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati in October 2010 as its Director. He had brought about a total transformation of this airport within his brief stint of one year and eight months and eventually bagged the coveted Best Airport Award from the then Minister of Civil Aviation in April 2010. He was again called for to lend his magic wand by taking over as Director of the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, lucknow. It was during his tenure here, he was nominated to pursue an Airport Management Professional Accreditation Programme (AMPAP) under the Airport Council International and the International Civil Aviation Organisation, and after completion of this elite course was awarded with the much-sought-after insignia International Airport Professional (IAP) designation, which is the dream of every airport officer. Hota carried out many developmental activities at the lucknow airport, and with his leadership, steered the airport to World No II position among airports of 2 to 5 million capacity in 2015. He was again awarded this time by Minister of Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju in New Delhi in 2016. After a brief cadre posting from April 2016 to April 2017 as Air Traffic Services in-Charge at the SVPI Airport, Ahmedabad, Hota has taken over the reins of administration of the Bhubaneswar airport. In an interview to The Pioneer, Hota spoke to Sugyan Choudhury as to how he is committed to a holistic development of the Biju Patnaik International Airport by increasing the flow of tourists, by enhancing the facilities for hassle-free journey of the passengers and by ensuring an ideal security cover to the airport.
What are the plans on your agenda to increase the passenger conveniences in the days aheadIJ
Achieving passengers’ delight is our main objective. We have started acting towards a seamless and hassle-free passenger movement from entry to the airport until boarding by reducing the most irritating factor, “queuing”. To achieve this, all concerned have been sensitised and additional facilities like more manpower deployed to man all the gates entering to the terminal, provision of more numbers of frisking booths during peak hours, traffic regulation in the lanes to avoid congestion and a Bay No. and Gate No. allocation scheme has been undertaken. low-cost availability of water, tea, coffee along with premium quality is also being explored for passengers to exercise their choices. Nameplate has been made compulsory for all the service providers for accountability.
What are the new projects in the offing at the airportIJ
In our continuous endeavour to provide a state-of-art infrastructure, we have taken up various projects. Expansion of the existing domestic terminal building (T1) by merging with international terminal (T2) to create more space which will further enhance seamless passenger movement has been approved. Work of construction of a new control tower and a technical block is awarded and is in progress. Construction of a parallel taxi track is also planned which will facilitate less runway occupancy by the aircraft and increase more numbers of flight movements to/from the airport. Construction work of a covered walkway in front of the domestic terminal building to the car parking for ease of passenger movement has also been awarded. The total cost of the projects planned/awarded is Rs 150 crore.
Are there any plans for flying of any new international flights in near futureIJ
Flight operation is a business opportunity for airlines which they take up after proper survey and commences only with business potential. In order to attract more international operations with less time restriction, we have made our airport operational on a 24-hour basis. We have also requested airlines to explore the possibility of more international connections, and we are ready to extend all cooperation for commencement of new international flights.
Would you please elaborate on the safety measures at the airportIJ Are they adequate to keep the airport going on hassle-freeIJ
Yes, we have a robust Safety Management System (SMS) in place. All our new activities or changes pass through an established system of safety assessment and are carried out only with the concurrence of appropriate authorities. As a licensed airport, the Airport Director is the accountable executive to Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to conduct all activities at the airport in accordance with the DGCA Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR). All our airside activities are carried out in accordance with our approved Aerodrome Manual. Safety meetings are held regularly with all stakeholders to deliberate on safety aspects of the operations, assess hazards and work out mitigations. We encourage voluntary safety/hazard reporting for continuous improvements.
What are the remedial measures being undertaken to put a stop to the bird menaceIJ
The bird hazard is a serious safety concern of this airport, for which the operational area of the airport is managed for distraction of birds, and external environment is regularly inspected with local bodies to ensure it doesn’t attract birds. Inside the airport, various distraction techniques of birds like gas cannon, crackers, laser guns, six short launchers are used. The operational area is maintained neat and clean; the grass is maintained up to the permissible level. We are in the process of tendering a more effective job contract for bird hazard control. We are also planning local road shows with the help of schoolchildren for creating awareness among public.
What steps are taken to increase the tourist flow, especially international tourists to OdishaIJ
The Airports Authority of India is committed to provide world-class services at the Bhubaneswar airport. We are making this airport more user-friendly to attract international tourists. We have taken up the issue of e-visa facility with the appropriate authority.
As desired, are you getting all sorts of cooperation from the State GovernmentIJ
The Government of Odisha is extending wholehearted and full cooperation for ensuring a smooth airport operation and is extending all help for growth of the airport.