THE administration of the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport has finally plugged a major gap which is set to save hundreds of crores of public money. Taking cognisance of a major anomaly in landing of fights, the airport administration has introduced Runway Visual Radar (RVR) System clearing way for regular flight-landing on the rarely used Runway 14. The Hitavada through its research article titled “Runway 14 - Rarely used landing strip that can save crores”, published on May 25, 2025, had identified a major gap in landing and take-off direction at Nagpur airport.

 

This incorrect landing was leading to annual loss of Rs 200 crore. A cartographic study conducted by Dr Sandeep Shirkhedkar, a Cartographer and Social Engineering expert, revealed that Nagpur airport primarily used Runway 32 (Wardha Road side) for landings, which was deemed the ‘incorrect landing direction’ for flights coming from major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, Indore and Ahmedabad. This practice forced aircraft to travel an extra distance, consuming additional time and fuel.

 

The study estimated this inefficiency cost stakeholders over Rs 200 crore per year. Runway 14 (Jaitala side) was rarely used because it lacked an Instrument Landing System (ILS), which is essential for safe landings during night or low-visibility conditions. After extensive follow-up by Dr Shirkhedkar with authorities like Director General Civil Aviation, Ministry of Aviation, Members of Parliament and Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the authorities initiated several key improvements like RVR installation, move toward CAT-II and ILS implementation. “I am continuously tracking landing and take-off from Nagpur and I am happy that there is a substantial change,” an elated Dr Shirkhedkar told ‘The Hitavada’. “Around 15-20 flights are now landing and taking off from Runway 14 which will help save public money in near future.

 

It is a big success as it will help Nagpur to handle more flights,” he added. When asked about the newly-installed RVR system, Dr Rizwan Ahmed, Director, Airport Meteorological Office, Nagpur said, “The landing and take-off of aircraft depends on cross winds and Air Traffic Control (ATC) takes decision on it. ATC faces challenge at mid-point of the runway as there is no proper equipment. So we had to increase the visibility during bad weather. Now RVR helps to give clear view of the runway at mid-point as well”. Nagpur is currently handling around 100 scheduled and unscheduled flights daily in which some flights are landing and taking off from Runway 14, claimed Dr Rizwan.