By Staff Correspndent
In the labyrinth of global aviation challenges, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is carving an ambitious, twofold path: pioneering sustainability while meeting the escalating demands of its burgeoning passenger base. During a recent address, AAI Chairman Sanjeev Kumar, a pivotal voice in the sector, elucidated this commitment, echoing AAI’s environmental aims and the imperative of infrastructural expansion.
Sustainability & GRIHA-5
Championing green solutions, Kumar declared AAI’s aim to align all current and impending airport structures with the lauded GRIHA-5 standards. This audacious plan marks the dawn of 2024 as the timeline to transition all AAI airports to solely powered by renewable energy.
“Being a forward-thinking entity, our duty extends beyond mere operations. We are unequivocally attuned to environmental nuances,” The AAI Chairman proclaimed. “By December 2024, we target all operational airports to draw power purely from renewable sources.”
Meeting Demands: More Than Just Green Endeavours
Beyond sustainability, the palpable congestion across India’s airports stands testament to the sector’s flourishing state, which Kumar finds encouraging. Nonetheless, it simultaneously throws into sharp relief the looming infrastructural challenges.
The AAI Chairman affirmed, “The aviation sector’s renaissance, led by the enterprising Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, has been palpable over the past six to eight months. The roadmap entails augmenting airport infrastructures — an increase in gates, enhancement of counter facilities, and upscaling manpower. This is a collective endeavour, calling upon the concerted efforts of airports, airlines, and operators alike.”
A National Priority
Home Minister Amit Shah’s personal monitoring of airport congestion only accentuates the gravity the nation assigns to these challenges. Kumar heralded India’s audacious order of 1000 aircraft, painting a luminous picture of the nation’s aviation future.
The Landing Trajectory
As 2024 approaches and the global discourse veers towards sustainable aviation, AAI’s visionary endeavours will be under the international magnifying glass. The amalgamation of environmental consideration with infrastructural prowess promises to set a precedent. Observers and stakeholders, locally and internationally, anticipate these plans to materialise.
