Nagpur: Quietly but decisively, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) unit at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport has emerged as a vital nerve centre for aviation traffic across Central India. Over the past three years, the Nagpur ATC has handled more than 14 lakh aircraft movements, underscoring the city’s growing strategic importance in India’s airspace management.
Information accessed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by Abhay Kolarkar shows a consistent surge in both terminal and enroute aircraft movements monitored by the Nagpur facility. The data, provided by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), reflects mounting operational pressure on air traffic controllers as aviation activity intensifies.
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Feb 9th, 2026 - Time 11.45Hrs
The year 2024 proved to be the busiest so far, with Nagpur ATC managing a record 5,85,505 aircraft movements. This followed a sharp rise from late 2022, when 1,29,410 aircraft were handled between October and December alone. The upward trend continued through 2023 with 5,40,339 movements, while the first quarter of 2025 (January to March) has already seen 1,53,212 aircraft under ATC supervision.
In terms of airport-specific operations, the ATC handled 13,375 departures from Nagpur during the last complete calendar year. However, airport take-offs and landings form only a fraction of the workload.
A substantial share of operations involves enroute movements, aircraft that merely transit through Nagpur’s airspace while flying between other domestic and international destinations. Between January 2024 and March 2025 alone, Nagpur ATC monitored as many as 7,07,158 such flights, highlighting the city’s role as a key aerial corridor.
Monthly figures for early 2025 further reflect the sustained load on controllers, with 51,160 aircraft handled in January, 50,952 in February and 51,100 in March.
Frequent flyers acknowledge the critical role played by ATC personnel. “Air traffic control is the backbone of aviation safety. Pilots depend heavily on ATC guidance, especially during storms or heavy rainfall, when visibility is poor. Clear and timely communication can make the difference between a safe landing and a risky situation,” said a regular air traveller.
With economic reforms boosting mobility and more people opting for air travel, aviation activity continues to rise. This growth places increased responsibility on airlines, pilots and ground staff alike to ensure safe, seamless and risk-free journeys, an effort in which Nagpur’s ATC remains a silent but indispensable contributor.
