Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh

Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh (IATA: IXC), is one of India's strategically unique airports, serving dual-purpose operations for both civil aviation and Indian Air Force (IAF) activities under 12 Wing Air Force. Approximately 29,000 tonnes of material is airlifted annually from this airbase in support of armed forces deployed in J&K — underscoring the national defence significance of the facility.

In addition, the airport currently handles approximately 110+ flights daily — catering to a growing number of domestic passengers and cargo movement. This high-frequency operation, layered on top of regular IAF and logistics sorties, places exceptional mechanical and thermal stress on the runway pavement — far exceeding the wear and tear profile of a typical single-use civil airport.

The combined intensity of defence and civil flight operations significantly accelerated pavement aging at Chandigarh Airport. The key deterioration mechanisms observed were UV Oxidation & Bitumen Hardening, Foreign Object Debris (FOD) and Ravelling. Under the dual-use load regime, the runway's serviceable life was being curtailed prematurely, creating both a safety risk and an escalating maintenance liability.

A comprehensive condition assessment confirmed that standard reactive maintenance measures were insufficient. A proactive, penetrative rejuvenation solution was required to restore binder integrity and extend pavement life. LN Petrochem Pvt Ltd was engaged to carry out full-coverage Rejuvenation Treatment using Emulcote Runway Rejuvenator.

Unlike conventional fog seals that forms a thin 0–2 mm surface film, Emulcote penetrates 15–50 mm into the binder course, replenishing the maltene fraction of the oxidised bitumen and restoring its original viscosity, flexibility, and adhesion properties. Key benefits delivered under this treatment were Deep binder restoration, FOD elimination and Improved Ride Quality. In addition, the treatment ensured cost avoidance by extending pavement life while complying to DGCA airworthiness standards.

The Chandigarh Airport case study has demonstrated Emulcote Runway Rejuvenator's capacity to deliver reliable, safety-critical pavement restoration in India's most demanding dual-use airfield environments. Where standard maintenance cycles fail to keep pace with combined defence and civil operational stress, Emulcote provides a scientifically grounded, DGCA-compliant solution that extends asset life, eliminates FOD risk, and restores ICAO-standard surface performance.