PIL In Allahabad High Court Seeks Court's Intervention Over Decreasing Number Of Flights From Prayagraj

Recently, a public interest litigation has been filed in the Allahabad High Court seeking the Court's intervention in the decreasing number of flights from Prayagraj. The petitioner has pleaded that the High Court issue a writ of mandamus to the authorities to restart the discontinued flights and to start more flights in view of the Maha Kumbh in 2025.

Advocate Vineet Pandey has filed the PIL stating that even though the capacity of the Prayagraj Airport has increased, the number of flights plying from the city has been decreased as certain flights have been suspended/discontinued.

In the petition, the petitioner further stated that certain medical services are not available in the district for which people are required to airlifted to bigger cities for treatment. It has been stated that due to decreased number of flights, air ambulance services have also been affected.

Petitioner argued that “the absence of flights at the Prayagraj Airport is virtually denial of right to live properly which is violative of Article 21 of the Constitution of India.”

The petitioner has highlighted that students, lawyers, businessmen, doctors and industrialists are suffering because of the discontinuation of flights from Prayagraj Airport. It has been stated that flights are operating only to 7 cities from Prayagraj and many more are required to start especially in lieu of the Maha Kumbh Mela being held in the city next year.

The case was listed before a bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Vikas Budhwar. The Court has issued notice to the Airport Authority of India.

Earlier Litigation Regarding Airport at Prayagraj

In 2016, a public interest litigation was filed for upgradation of the Indian Airforce Airport at Bamrauli, which caters to District Prayagraj. In the said PIL, various orders were passed by the High Court directing meeting of the stakeholders and making a dedicated civil terminal for the flights landing at Bamrauli.

Eventually, the civil terminal, known as the Allahabad Airport (now Prayagraj Airport) had started operations in January 2019. However, the public interest litigation remains pending due to lack of proper roads leading to the airport. Further, in 2023, petitioner raised the issue of curtailment of flights from Prayagraj Airport. Counter affidavit was called from the respondents on the said issue.

Both PILs have been connected and will be heard together.