Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, has stated that commercial operations at Jewar Airport are expected to begin within the next 45 to 60 days.
In India, flight operations and related services at any airport can only commence once the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has issued the Airport Security Programme (ASP). The Bureau’s ASP is a document designed to outline the essential security procedures, protocols, and response plans mandated under the ‘Transportation Security Regulation 49 CFR 1542.’ It serves as a comprehensive security blueprint, providing detailed specifications regarding access control, perimeter security, security screening, and emergency contingency plans.
If flight operations have not even begun here, then what is the significance of the inauguration? Why, after all, was this ceremony conducted? Such questions are bound to arise in anyone’s mind. It is widely believed that this inauguration was timed with the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections in mind; the objective appears to be to project the completion of this long-pending airport project as a major achievement, thereby securing a political advantage for the ruling party at the Centre—the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Notably, the dates for the Legislative Assembly elections in four Indian states and one Union Territory have already been announced. Voting for the assembly elections is scheduled to take place on April 9, 2026, in Assam, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry, while in Tamil Nadu, it is set for April 23. Meanwhile, in West Bengal, polling will be held in two phases: April 23 and April 29.
