In preparation for Republic Day festivities, flight operations at Delhi Airport will be temporarily halted from 10:20 am to 12:45 pm between January 19 and January 26, according to an official statement from Delhi International Airport Limited.
As the country gears up for the 75th Republic Day, the Delhi Police has enforced a ban on the use of sub-conventional aerial platforms, encompassing paragliders, paramotors, hang gliders, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the national capital. This prohibition is effective for a duration of 29 days, spanning from January 18 to February 15, unless lifted sooner.
Expressing apprehensions in an official statement, the Delhi Police highlighted potential threats from criminal, anti-social elements, or terrorists with antagonistic intentions towards India. The statement specifically listed sub-conventional aerial platforms like para-gliders, para-motors, hang gliders, UAVs, UASs, microlight aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, hot air balloons, small-sized powered aircraft, quadcopters, or para-jumping from aircraft.
Citing the Ministry of Home Affairs’ directive dated May 10, 2019, Commissioner of Police, Delhi, Sanjay Arora, invoked the powers granted by Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, and the government’s notification from July 1, 1978. The order explicitly prohibits the operation of specified aerial platforms and their online sale within the jurisdiction of the National Capital Territory of Delhi during the Republic Day Function-2024. Any violation of this order is subject to punishment under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.
Given the impracticality of serving individual notices, the order is issued ex-parte and will be communicated to the public through press releases and by affixing copies on notice boards at various offices. The directive is effective from January 18, 2024, and remains in force for 29 days, concluding on February 15, 2024, unless rescinded earlier.