2024-03-02 10:35:18
New Delhi: The defense airport in Jamnagar, Gujarat has been accorded international status for ten days to mark the wedding of Anand Ambani, son of Indian billionaire and chairman of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani. The Wire reports that the Narendra Modi government has given status to the nearby airport in an unusual move as guests from different parts of the world come to attend the wedding. The Indian Air Force airport on the Pakistan border was given international status from February 25 to March 5. The wedding celebration will be held for three days from March 1 to 3 in Jamnagar. Anand is married to 29-year-old Radhika Merchant, daughter of businessman Viren Merchant. Mukesh Ambani from Gujarat is close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
At least 150 flights carrying more than 2,000 guests will arrive at the Jamnagar airport between February 28 and March 4, The Wire reported, quoting The Hindu Business Line. ’50 flights will arrive directly from foreign destinations. More than 300 flights will arrive at the airport during these five days,’ said Jamnagar airport director D.K. It was also clarified that Singh said. Around 2,000 people, including guests from Mumbai and Delhi, are expected to attend the pre-wedding event on these flights, the report said.
“This is a multi-fold jump in flight services at Jamnagar airport, which used to handle an average of only three scheduled and five non-scheduled flights per day,” the report said. According to The Hindu report, the Union Health Ministry, Finance Ministry and Home Ministry have pressed for setting up a Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facility at the airport.
Apart from allowing private jets access to the airport’s high-security ‘technical’ zone, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) also expanded the passenger building for the convenience of wedding guests. With this, the building, which previously accommodated 180 passengers during peak hours, can now accommodate 360 passengers.
An unnamed airport official said, “The expansion work was planned much earlier but was sped up for the (Ambani wedding) event,” The Hindu reported. Along with facilities, the airport has also increased its staff, the report highlights.
“Apart from the existing 16 people, thirty five people have been added as housekeeping staff. The Gujarat government has increased the number of security personnel from 35 to 70. Ground handling agencies have increased their staff strength from 65 to 125′, The Hindu reported.
The Hindu Business Line report added that Ambani’s Reliance Industries has been given permission to make special arrangements near the defense airport to receive dignitaries for the wedding.
In his Man Ki Baat radio address last November, Prime Minister Modi appealed to wealthy Indians to ‘Wed in India’. It is unclear whether the Modi government’s preparations for Ambani’s wedding at Jamnagar Defense Airport were part of this call. Anand Ambani got engaged on December 29 at a temple in Rajasthan. The news had earlier surfaced that the marriage would take place on March 1 in Jamnagar.
From abroad, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammad Bin Abdurrahman Bin Jassim Al Thani, Canadian Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Australian Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Swedish Former Prime Minister Cal Bildt, US Former President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump, Bolivian Former President Jorge Quirogare, Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Saudi Aramco Chairperson Yasir Al Rumayan, Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger, from India Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Arjun Kapoor, Director Atlee, Cricket Legend Sachin Tendulkar, Adani Chairman Gautam A large number of guests including Adani are coming to the wedding.
Famous pop singer Rihanna will come to perform a musical program at the wedding ceremony. India Today had reported that it cost US$ 8-9 million (INR 6674 crore) to bring Rihanna. Rihanna reached Jamnagar on Thursday with her troupe. Their pictures from the airport have come out. The celebrations have started from Friday. The three-day celebration is named An Evening in Everland. The pre-wedding festivities were held at Moti Khawdi village in Jamnagar, a township owned by Reliance Industries. Married in July.
Jamnagar Defence Airport get international status for 10 days for Anand Ambani-Radhika Merchant wedding
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