Gaya Airport Director Vacancy Disrupts Peak Tourist Season Operations
Since the transfer of Gaya International Airport director Bangjit Saha to Dibrugarh in late October, the crucial position has remained unfilled, creating significant operational challenges during what should be the facility's busiest period. The absence of permanent leadership is particularly concerning as the airport experiences maximum footfall during the peak tourist months from October through March, with only two months remaining in the current season.
Interim Leadership and Development Delays
Following Saha's transfer, Awadhesh Kumar has been serving as the officiating director, but airport insiders report that the lack of a regular director is hampering progress on several fronts. Multiple development, renovation, and upgrade initiatives have stalled, with the overall pace of infrastructure improvement falling well below expectations. The vacuum in leadership is being felt across various departments, affecting both day-to-day operations and long-term planning.
Critical Safety and Infrastructure Projects Pending
One of the most pressing concerns involves the delayed installation of the CAT approach light system, which provides essential visual guidance to pilots during low-visibility conditions. This system is specifically designed to facilitate safe landings and take-offs during foggy weather, which severely impacts flight operations in Gaya from mid-December through January. Despite the clear seasonal need, the airport has operated without this crucial safety enhancement throughout the current tourist season.
The installation requires an additional 18 acres of land, which remains unsecured. Furthermore, the Instrument Landing System requires urgent upgrading to improve all-weather operational capabilities. Another long-pending issue involves runway extension—the current runway measures 2,286 meters in length and 30 meters in width, dimensions insufficient to accommodate wide-body aircraft. To support larger planes, the runway needs extension by at least 500 meters and widening by another 15 meters.
Passenger Amenities and Terminal Improvements Needed
The airport's infrastructure requires comprehensive upgrades beyond runway and landing systems. Necessary improvements include:
- Expansion of the terminal building to handle increasing passenger traffic
- Enhanced passenger amenities and services
- Additional aerobridges to streamline boarding processes
- Expansion of international arrival and departure lounges
- Upgrades to immigration, customs, and security facilities to meet international standards
Passenger Experience Concerns and Staff Behavior
Passengers have reported issues with airport and airline staff behavior, noting that personnel are not always cooperative or courteous. Professor Arun Kumar Prasad emphasized that travelers deserve better treatment and a more passenger-friendly approach, particularly when flights experience delays. Currently, passengers often receive inadequate information about schedule changes or disruptions, adding to travel frustrations during the busy season.
Conflicting Perspectives on Leadership Vacancy Impact
Officiating director Awadhesh Kumar maintains that the absence of a regular director does not affect airport functioning. However, local stakeholders strongly disagree. Jai Singh, president of the Bodh Gaya Hotel Association, argues that the vacancy signals neglect of the airport's importance, while Anup Kedia, president of the Magadh Industries Association, has demanded immediate appointment of a permanent director to address the growing list of unresolved issues.
The situation highlights how leadership gaps at critical infrastructure facilities can have cascading effects on tourism, local economies, and passenger safety during peak operational periods. With only two months remaining in the current tourist season, stakeholders are urging authorities to fill the director position promptly to prevent further deterioration of services and infrastructure development.
