Surat December 2: A delegation from the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry visited the Surat International Airport on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, to closely inspect the infrastructure and facilities. Led by President Nikhil Madrasi, the team included Vice President Ashok Jirawala, Honorary Minister Bijal Jariwala, Honorary Treasurer CA Mitish Modi, former President Rajnikant Marfatia, and Aviation Committee Chairman Linesh Shah among other representatives, who conducted a detailed inspection and held a comprehensive meeting with the airport officials.
During the meeting, Airport Director A.N. Sharma informed the delegation that three to four new flights had been added to the airport operations in recent months. He stated that the work on the parallel taxi track has been completed and has received the necessary approval from the DGCA. As per agency report, this facility is set to be utilized soon, which is expected to nearly double the capacity of the runway. The Director further mentioned that development works concerning the upgradation of the emergency exit system, new lounges, and duty-free shops are currently underway.
The Chamber representatives put forward a strong demand for increasing international connectivity from the airport. They emphasized the necessity of flights on routes such as Surat-Doha-USA via Indigo, as well as connections to Singapore and Hong Kong. The Chamber stated that it would officially represent the matter to various airlines regarding night flights to accelerate efforts to connect Surat directly with the international network.
The delegation and officials also discussed the requirement for a bank branch and ATM at the airport. The Chamber assured the officials that they would coordinate with the State Bank of India to find a solution. Additionally, a proposal was made to organize a Vendor Development Program in collaboration with the Airport Authority, which was accepted by the officials.
Discussions during the meeting also covered the Airport Master Plan 2047. The Airport Director explained that this plan is part of the Developed India vision document, but considering the rapid growth of Surat, the Airport Authority requires a re-survey. Consequently, the Chamber plans to present a new proposal to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Chairman of the Airports Authority of India. During the tour, the representatives inspected the airport terminal, the ATC tower, and the Ventura hangar, engaging in useful discussions with Ventura officials regarding regional connectivity and the future of the aviation sector.
