DNA:Inaugurated with much fanfare on August 21,the third runway at the capitals Indira Gandhi International Airport has still not become fully functional.
The runway, touted as the nations longest, was supposed to cut the frequent flight delays at the airport due to air congestion, but a string of snags is preventing its full use.
Sources told DNA airport authorities were still grappling with a host of erratically-fitted gadgets such as the instrument landing system (ILS). ILS is crucial to guide aircraft while landing and take-off, especially when visibility is poor. It would be very useful in Delhi during winter when a dense fog envelopes the airport area most mornings.
The lighting on the runway and taxiing tracks is also incomplete. Delhi International Airport Limited officials refused to divulge the reasons for the delay. "It [the runway] will be opened for commercial use very soon once all gadgets are in place", is all an official could come up with.
There is little hope that the over 4-km-long runway will become functional even in September.
"During trials, experts found some technical snags in ILS," a senior airport official said, adding that the test report had been submitted to the directorate general of civil aviation. The surface movement radar (SMR) is another crucial gadget that is missing. SMR is extremely important to ensure runway and taxiing tracks safety.
"Without SMR, air traffic controllers wont know what is moving on the runway or taxiing track and wont be able to alert pilots beforehand, increasing the possibility of mishaps," a senior air traffic controller said.
