Faizan Haidar writes on the Delhi government, city politics, transport, aviation, and social welfare. A journalist for a decade, he also tracks issues such as trafficking and labour exploitation in Delhi and other states.
Articles by Faizan Haidar
GoAir crew forgets navigation charts, flight to Bangkok makes U-turn after 2 hrs
The airline had changed the aircraft at the last moment due to some technical issue and the replacement aircraft was not carrying required approach and navigation charts for Bangkok.
Updated on Jun 16, 2020 02:08 AM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
Railways’ elite commando unit will now protect Kashmir projects
The 1200-member commando unit will use latest weapons and equipments and are specialized responder for any situation pertaining to damage, disturbance, disruption of train operations, attack/hostage/hijack, and disaster situations in railway areas.
Updated on Aug 14, 2019 05:20 PM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
Railways’ free Wi-Fi benefits more than just passengers
In descending order, the top 10 railway stations by Wi-Fi usage are Howrah, New Delhi, Sealdah, Secunderabad, Patna, Kalyan, Old Delhi, Chennai, Lucknow and Gorkahpur, according to RailTel data accessed by Hindustan Times.
Updated on Aug 11, 2019 07:36 AM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
To curb accidents, aviation watchdog DGCA to issue new checklist for airports
In order to regulate airside activities and to reduce ground incidents, for safe operation of aircraft, DGCA has decided to conduct the safety audit of airside activities quarterly as per the checklist.
Updated on Aug 09, 2019 10:59 PM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
After closure notice, Centaur hotel staff fear for their jobs
Fearing they will be moved out of the city or will be asked to take voluntary retirement, the employees have also asked for wage review, which is pending since 2007.
Updated on Aug 08, 2019 12:27 AM IST
New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
DGCA proposes alcohol test for air traffic controllers, aircraft engineers
Under a proposal of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) engineers working at the airside, air traffic controllers and drivers of passenger bridges and buses will also be subjected to breath analyser test soon.
Updated on Aug 07, 2019 08:36 PM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
Cabinet approves higher train speed for Delhi-Mumbai
The move will give boost to Indian Railways’ ambitious project of ‘Mission Raftaar’ where they not only want to increase the maximum speed of passenger and freight trains but also the average speed.
Updated on Aug 07, 2019 11:31 PM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
DGCA asks airlines, airports to pay special attention to elderly, first timers
The aviation watchdog has said that air transportation is steadily becoming a major activity either for business or leisure.
Published on Aug 06, 2019 07:29 PM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
For a smooth ride, railways plan massive upgrades
One of the key changes will be the modification of wheels and the braking system so that passengers do not feel the impact when brakes are applied, said Rajesh Aggarwal, member (rolling stock) of railway board.
Published on Aug 06, 2019 01:32 AM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
Bigger, better Delhi airport by 2022
Under the plan, work on which has already started, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) would carry out integration of the departure and arrival terminals of T1, construction of new T1 apron, a fourth runway and dual elevated taxiway.
Updated on Aug 06, 2019 05:30 PM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
Third tender floated for construction of 90km-section of bullet train project
The 90km section will have one elevated station at Anand/Nadiad.
Published on Aug 02, 2019 03:34 PM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
The hotel known for its luxe interiors, Chinese restaurant
The decision isn’t a surprise to anyone and the Centaur’s last act has played out across a decade. Its demolition will leave Hotel Corporation of India with just the Lake View Centaur in Srinagar.
Updated on Aug 01, 2019 07:44 AM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
2 SpiceJet pilots banned for a year by DGCA
“The final approach was unstabilised and aircraft touched down with high speed at approximately 1,600 metres from runway 27 threshold,” the aviation regulator said in its order suspending his flying licence for a year.
Updated on Jul 30, 2019 01:06 AM IST
Mumbai | Faizan Haidar
Bullet trains to be customised for India’s heat, dust
The National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL), which is executing the project linking the capitals of Maharashtra and Gujarat, believes the trains will have to be customised for Indian conditions so that they don’t break down due to heat and dust.
Published on Jul 29, 2019 07:30 AM IST
New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
Two dozen more airports may be privatised
In November 2018, the cabinet approved the privatization of six operational airports. With elections being declared in March, the privatization process could not be cleared by the cabinet, but soon after coming to the power, the Narendra Modi government approved the privatization of Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Mangalore airports.
Updated on Jul 27, 2019 12:03 AM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
Caller said Bombay, airport control room heard ‘bomb hai’
The caller, a hotel management graduate looking for a job, found a number for the airport on Google and called to check about openings.
Updated on Jul 26, 2019 07:49 AM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
RailTel on a mission to give Wi-Fi to 4,791 stations in less than 100 days
In two-and-a-half years, RailTel has covered 1,606 stations, including Mumbai, Howroh, Patna, Shimla, Ranchi, Surat and New Delhi.
Updated on Jul 25, 2019 05:46 AM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
Delhi airport is cheapest to land: DIAL tells aviation ministry
The study says charges levied by operators were lowest at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, one of the busiest in the world, in 2018. While most other airports levy high landing charges, Delhi airport’s charges are the lowest among the top global airports, according to the officials.
Published on Jul 22, 2019 05:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
Soon, watch TV shows, news debates on Indian Railways’ free application
The Railway Board has chosen RailTel Corporation of India Ltd, a unit of the national transporter, to implement the project that will enable travellers to stream their favourite content, whether it be Hindi serials or the night’s news debate, through a free app.
Updated on Jul 21, 2019 07:30 AM IST
New delhi | Faizan Haidar
United to resume Delhi-NY flight, others begin ops as airspace opens
The US-based United Airlines announced on Wednesday that it would resume two daily non-stop flights — between New York and Delhi, and New York and Mumbai — from September 6.
Updated on Jul 18, 2019 12:58 AM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
Govt writes to Railways to execute 6 projects as part of 100-day plan
The Centre has drawn up an ambitious 100-day agenda which includes six objectives, like, Wi-Fi for passengers and raising speed of trains on New Delhi-Howrah and New Delhi-Mumbai routes among others.
Published on Jul 16, 2019 11:42 PM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
Pakistan reopens airspace, airfares fall
Airlines have had to fly longer and spend more money on fuel and extra crew after bypassing Pakistan, and passengers have had to pay more towards air fares on international destinations.
Updated on Jul 17, 2019 01:30 AM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
Australia targetsT20 world cup in 2020 to increase tourist inflow
According to the data provided by Tourism Australia, visitors from Delhi and Maharashtra contribute heavily to the tourist inflow and with 7.5 lakh Indians living there, the Australian government is hopeful to achieve 5 lakh tourist by the end of next year.
Updated on Jul 16, 2019 05:06 PM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
Six major airports told to deploy disabled aircraft removal kits
The direction comes after a SpiceJet aircraft overshot the runway while landing at the Mumbai airport and could not be removed for four days.s
Published on Jul 15, 2019 11:56 PM IST
New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
Italian nurse booked for using satellite phone at Mumbai airport
Satellite phones have been banned in India after the 2008 Mumbai attack as terrorists were found using them.
Published on Jul 14, 2019 04:27 PM IST
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI | Faizan Haidar & Farhan Shaikh
Bullet train passengers may be charged for extra baggage
The introduction of the country’s first bullet train, known as the Shinkansen in Japan and expected to be operational in 2022, will mark India’s shift to an era of high-speed trains capable of hitting speeds of up to 350 kilometres per hour.
Updated on Jul 14, 2019 07:49 AM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
DGCA launches investigation as airlines’ buses collide at Delhi airport; four injured
In a statement, IndiGo confirmed the incident and that the passengers (of flight 6E 2315) injured were given medical aid.
Published on Jul 14, 2019 04:52 AM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
RDX in cargo at Vadodara airport sparks fear
A cargo consignment booked with Indigo was checked for RDX by the CISF. The box when opened revealed two air pistols, pellet boxes and two boxes of small bullets.
Updated on Jul 11, 2019 08:00 AM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
New tax regime to bring down airfares
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting her first Budget of the Modi 2.0 government on Friday had said that the time is ripe for India to enter into aircraft financing and leasing activities from Indian shores.
Updated on Jul 07, 2019 11:19 AM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar
Airlines told to prep for bad weather, carry fuel to fly to 2 other airports
Civil aviation regulator has asked the airlines in India to carry fuel for two alternate destinations considering adverse weather conditions in some part of the country.
Updated on Jul 05, 2019 10:56 PM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Faizan Haidar