Overview
- Airport officials announced the maintenance plan on June 2, proposing full runway unavailability every Monday and Tuesday from July 1 to September 30 and a complete suspension of flights for 15 days starting October 1.
- A NOTAM issued by the Indian Air Force on April 6 has already limited daily operations to 08:00–17:00, cutting evening and early-morning services and reducing the number of daily flights.
- Authorities say the closure is needed because the single, defence‑operated runway requires uninterrupted repairs that cannot be done overnight or in piecemeal work.
- Airlines and government agencies have begun contingency steps such as payload limits, rerouting some Hajj returns via Ahmedabad, and asking travellers to check official channels, while tourism and business groups warn of heavy losses during the peak autumn travel season.
- If approved, the shutdown will push more traffic onto roads and trains, threaten bookings during the Durga Puja/Navratri period, and has prompted calls for expanded rail and highway services to reduce economic harm.