(a) whether Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) are facing heavy work load at airports of metropolitan cities like Delhi and Mumbai due to frequent flights of public and private airlines;
(b) if so, whether this workload is adversely affecting the time schedule and safety of flights;
(c) if so, the plans being formulated by the Government to reduce the workload on ATCs and operate air traffic smoothly with security; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION ( SHRI PRAFUL PATEL )
(a) Mumbai and Delhi airports are busiest airports in India handling maximum traffic. However, multiple sectors/ units are implemented which distributes the traffic among various controllers and thereby workload is distributed.
(b), (c)& (d) Safety of air operation has not been allowed to be compromised due to increase in traffic. Further, modern state of art technology radar system, communication, navigation, surveillance system and automation system are provided to ensure safe and efficient operation with enhanced safety level. In addition, various additional works have been taken up like upgradation of ATC Automation System at Kolkata and Chennai with Controller Tools, Arrival Manager etc.; Tower Automation for a number of airports; Additional En-route Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radars for seamless surveillance coverage over Continental Indian Airspace; Provision of Approach Radars ASR/ MSSR for Cochin and Amritsar; Provision of additional radar at Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai for ensuring continuity of radar service; Digital ATIS at 21 airports; Provision of ILS at 12 additional airports; Provision of DVOR at 8 additional airports; Provision of DME at 8 additional airports; Advanced Surface Movement and Guidance Control System (ASMGCS) at Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai airports and upgradation of system at Delhi airport to cover 3rd runway and GBAS at Mumbai and Delhi airports.