Delhi airspace to be closed Oct. 3, 14
With a view to tighten security and prevent any possibility of a terror attack from the skies, the civil aviation ministry on Saturday announced that the airspace over Delhi would be “closed” from 5 pm to 10 pm on October 3 and 14 — which are the days of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games — but assured that routine commercial flights would continue to operate even during this time.
The ministry said “no flight shall be permitted to take off/land at the Delhi airport and other airports within 300 km zone around it” during the aforementioned time-period except for routine commercial flights, defence and paramilitary aircraft and helicopters carrying VIPs.
The government has banned the flying of micro-light aircraft and hang-gliders from flying clubs in the airspace over Delhi during this time-period in order to rule out the possibility of these being used for any terror attack.
As earlier reported, the Indian Air Force’s unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and armed helicopters will also be keeping track of the skies over the capital to ensure complete security for the Commonwealth Games.
In a statement, the ministry said, “The Delhi airspace will be closed from 5.00 pm to 10.00 pm on October 3 and 14, 2010, (which are) the opening and closing days of the Commonwealth Games except routine commercial flights, Indian Air Force, BSF and ARC flights, state-owned aircraft/helicopters flying the governor or chief minister within the state and subject to necessary clearance from ministry of home affairs.”
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