As part of its annual infrastructure upkeep, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) will be closed for a few hours on May 8 to carry out pre-monsoon runway maintenance. Both the primary and the secondary runways will remain non-operational between 11 am and 5 pm as part of the airport’s monsoon contingency programme aimed at improving runway safety and maintaining seamless operations during the rainy season.
The airport authorities have said that flight services and passenger movement would not be hit due to the closure.
“Six-month advance Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued, giving airlines and concerned stakeholders sufficient time to reschedule flights. Due to this foresight, airport officials assure that there would be no inconvenience in passenger movement or operations of airlines,” said a CSMIA spokesperson.
The pre-monsoon check will comprise extensive surface inspection, minor repairs, and anti-waterlogging measures.
Spread across 1,033 acres, CSMIA’s facilities receive frequent preventive maintenance to reduce monsoon risks, during which operational complexities reach a peak. Specialists will employ sophisticated technology to keep an eye on the entire process to ensure timely and effective completion within the six-hour window.
Coordinated in consultation with airlines, air traffic control, and ground operations teams, the maintenance activity is expected to be completed without affecting the airport’s usual efficiency.
“The airport continues to be dedicated to providing safe, smooth, and reliable air travel throughout the year. This planned maintenance is part of our overall strategy to maintain world-class safety standards and operational excellence during the monsoon,” the spokesperson said.
Story continues below this ad
As the second busiest airport in India and one of the busiest airports in the nation, CSMIA operates hundreds of flights per day and millions of passengers every month.