Safdarjung Airport, Aerodrome with helicopter operations in Sri Aurobindo Marg, India
Safdarjung Airport is an aerodrome with helicopter operations on Sri Aurobindo Marg in New Delhi, featuring a main runway, helicopter landing zones, and administrative offices of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The facility spans about 190 acres and primarily handles government aviation needs and VVIP helicopter movements.
The aerodrome was established in 1929 as Willingdon Airfield during British rule and was New Delhi's main airport until the 1960s. Operations then shifted to Palam Airport as the city expanded.
The name comes from the nearby Safdarjung's Tomb, a Mughal-era monument that defines the character of the surrounding neighborhood.
The aerodrome is not typically accessible to general visitors, as it is restricted to authorized government flights and helicopter traffic. You can observe helicopter movements from Sri Aurobindo Marg, where they operate regularly throughout the day.
A specialized underground tunnel has connected the Indian Prime Minister's residence directly to the facility since 2010 for secure helicopter movements. This hidden corridor represents a remarkable example of modern security infrastructure at the site.
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