By Sameep Singh Gumtala, Published on July 18th, 2025 in News
After years of consistent advocacy and appeals to the authorities including Airport Authority of India, the long-awaited Wi-Fi facility has finally been restored at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar. This marks a significant step toward improving the passenger experience, particularly for international travelers who have long expressed frustration over the absence of this essential digital service.
The FlyAmritsar Initiative and Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) have repeatedly raised this issue in the media and through direct representations to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the district administration. Over the years, both organizations have received numerous complaints from travelers about the non-functional Wi-Fi service, which has become a basic necessity in today’s connected world.
Sameep Singh Gumtala, a USA based aviation analyst and Global Convener of the FlyAmritsar Initiative, stated, “restoring Wi-Fi at the airport was a long-standing and much-needed step. We had raised this concern time and again because it impacts passengers’ ability to stay connected, especially those arriving from abroad who need to access flight, transport, or accommodation details online. We’re glad to see this finally addressed. Such improvements are vital for an airport serving a large international diaspora.”
Yogesh Kamra, Convener (India) for the FlyAmritsar Initiative and General Secretary of AVM added, “we thank the authorities for responding to public feedback. This development demonstrates that sustained civic engagement can bring about meaningful change. We also appreciate the proactive role played by Deputy Commissioner Amritsar, Ms. Sakshi Sawhney, IAS, who has been actively involved in airport-related coordination meetings.”
The Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar Smt. Sakshi Sawhney, IAS, recently confirmed the update in a post on the social media platform X, stating that the free Wi-Fi service for passengers is now available at Airport for up to 45 minutes from 10th July, 2025.
While welcoming this important development, the FlyAmritsar Initiative and Amritsar Vikas Manch emphasized the need for urgent attention to several other issues that continue to affect passengers. These include overcharging in the parking area, lack of transparency regarding Fast Tag implementation, and disorder in the pickup and drop-off zones. They also highlighted the need to improve overall passenger experience by addressing the shortage of clear signage and enhancing staff behavior, particularly incidents involving airport helpers who approach passengers without being requested and then demand money for unsolicited assistance — a practice that causes discomfort and embarrassment to many travelers, especially international arrivals.
Both organizations have also urged the local administration and the Punjab Government to start direct bus services to the airport from various cities across Punjab. They said this is essential to provide public transport options for the more than 10,000 passengers who travel through the airport daily.
