DGCA says it has no idea how Jamnagar Airport was upgraded to Intl status during Ambani Festivities
New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has drawn scrutiny after declaring it lacks information on the procedures that temporarily elevated Jamnagar's domestic airport to international status. This rare upgrade coincided with high-profile pre-wedding celebrations organized by the Ambani family from February 25 to March 5.
During this period, Jamnagar experienced an unprecedented surge in air traffic. Reports indicate that the Indian Air Force (IAF) managed the significant increase in activity, with the airport, which typically handles domestic flights, accommodating up to 70 flights on March 1 alone.
Sources reveal that Reliance Group sought the IAF's assistance for continuous operations, anticipating a substantial influx of international guests. While initial estimates suggested 30-40 aircraft movements, the actual figure surpassed 600, straining the airport's infrastructure.
Activist T. Narasimha Murthy, advocating for transparency, filed a Right to Information (RTI) request to know the basis for the airport's temporary status elevation for Mukesh Ambani's son's pre-wedding ceremony. Murthy's RTI sought details on the DGCA's role and the legal grounds for this extraordinary change.
In response, the DGCA's Chief Public Relations Officer stated, "In regard to the information sought, it is informed that no such information is available with the CPIO." This reply has intensified public concern, as Murthy emphasized the need for clarity on how a primarily military airport, near the Pakistan border, received such a significant status shift.
Murthy also questioned whether similar privileges would be extended to ordinary citizens for their personal events. Additionally, he requested access to the no-objection certificate (NOC) issued by relevant departments and details of expenses incurred during the airport's temporary transformation, given its usual limited resources.
The guest list for the lavish celebrations included notable figures such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Rihanna, and Ivanka Trump.
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RCB secure IPL playoff berth with 23-run win against Punjab Kings
Dharamsala (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru rode on fluent half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer, along with a decisive opening spell from pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, to thrash Punjab Kings by 23 runs and seal a playoff berth in the IPL here on Sunday.
Kohli (58 off 37 balls), Iyer (73 not out off 40 balls) and Devdutt Padikkal (45) produced impactful knocks as RCB piled up 222 for 4 in 20 overs.
Bhuvneshwar (2/38) then removed the dangerous Punjab Kings opening pair of Priyansh Arya (0) and Prabhsimran Singh (2) early to all but shut the door on the opposition, who eventually managed 199 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs.
Pacer Rasikh Salam (3/36) compounded Punjab Kings' misery by dismissing skipper Shreyas Iyer (1) in the fourth over as the hosts slumped to 19 for 3.
Late-order batters Shashank Singh (56 off 27 balls) and Marcus Stoinis (37 off 25 balls) attempted to revive the innings with a counter-attacking effort, but the towering RCB total ultimately proved far beyond PBKS' reach.
Earlier, Kohli stitched together a 76-run stand with Devdutt for the second wicket to lay the foundation before adding another 60 runs with Venkatesh for the third wicket as table-toppers RCB delivered yet another authoritative batting display.
Brief Scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 222 for 4 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 58, Devdutt Padikkal 45, Venkatesh Iyer 73 not out; Harpreet Brar 2/35).
Punjab Kings: 199 for 8 in 20 overs (Cooper Connolly 37, Suryansh Shedge 35, Marcus Stoinis 37, Shashank Singh 56; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/38, Rasikh Salam 3/36).
