Q&A: Advancing Runway Safety and Sustainability for India's Aviation Future
India’s aviation sector is soaring, with ambitious growth plans that demand world-class infrastructure and maintenance. On his one-year anniversary with SMETS we discussed this situation with Mr Nidugonda Varahalu, a highly skilled professional with extensive experience in airside and runway safety operations in India.
In this brief Q&A, Nidugonda shares his insights into SMETS’s cutting-edge runway maintenance technology, its strategic alignment with India’s unique needs, and its vision for contributing towards India’s aviation future.
What attracted you to work with SMETS? How do you think the company aligns with the needs of the Indian airport sector?
SMETS Technology is a global technology leader in runway rubber removal systems, offering a direct path to enhance operational safety and efficiency in Indian aviation, an area in which I care about greatly. Unfortunately, many Indian airports rely on outdated, inefficient methods for critical runway maintenance, joining with SMETS was an opportunity to help to change this.
SMETS Technology aligns very closely with India’s growing desire for self-sufficiency by providing easy-to-use, German-engineered systems with remote diagnostics and local support. These systems also meet ICAO friction and safety norms while supporting India’s green aviation goals through chemical-free and resource efficient technology.
How does SMETS envisage its role in supporting India's ambitious future aviation growth?
With India planning to double passenger traffic by 2030 and expanding to over 350 airports by 2047, we see ourselves as a strategic enabler of safe, efficient, and sustainable runway operations.
We want to help ensure that every take-off and landing meets the highest global standards, whether at major or regional airports.
Through extensive global experience SMETS can also contribute significantly to training, knowledge transfer, and best-practice development for standardised runway maintenance as new airports emerge throughout India.
How does SMETS UHP water jetting technology improve runway safety and pavement lifespan in India's diverse conditions?
Our advanced Ultra-High Pressure water jetting and high-speed rotating nozzle technology delivers clean, safe, and sustainable runway maintenance. This approach ensures high friction and runway surface preservation, even amidst India’s monsoons and heavy traffic.
Unlike abrasive methods, UHP water jetting maximises cleaning without damaging the surface, which is crucial for extending runway lifespan in India, reducing costly repairs, and enhancing overall safety.
What is the significance of the ‘no chemicals, only water’ approach for India's environmental sustainability focus?
Our ‘no chemicals, only water’ approach is a strategic asset for India’s sustainability-focused aviation environment. By facilitating clean, safe, and environmentally responsible runway maintenance, SMETS directly helps Indian airports and contractors meet operational goals while aligning with the nation’s long-term environmental vision by reducing our ecological footprint.
How do durable components, strong warranties, and multi-functional systems benefit Indian clients?
Our commitment to durable components, climate-ready engineering, and strong warranties ensures long-term reliability and cost savings for Indian airports and contractors, this is very well suited to India’s intense runway usage and diverse climates.
Furthermore, the versatility of our systems (offering solutions that can deal with rubber removal, marking removal/refreshing, surface retexturing, and spill recovery) offer Indian clients a cost-effective, flexible, and safety-focused solution for diverse runway maintenance needs.
How does SMETS engage with ‘Make in India’ and plan to integrate with emerging technologies like AI?
SMETS views India as a collaborative partner in innovation and manufacturing, blending the best of German engineering quality with local expertise and “Make in India” principles to deliver world-class, locally relevant, and future-ready solutions.
Looking ahead, we see significant opportunities to integrate with India’s growing adoption of predictive maintenance, AI (Artificial Intelligence), and digital twin technology for airport management.
By integrating IoT, AI, and digital twin technologies, SMETS can evolve into a digital partner, helping airports harness predictive insights and optimising maintenance cycles for smarter, safer, and more efficient operations.
What is your personal vision for SMETS future growth and impact in India?
I am very passionate about making SMETS a trusted partner in India’s aviation growth story. Through the combination of innovation, sustainability, and local empowerment we can help ensure India’s runways remain safe, efficient, and future-ready.
I aim to leverage my expertise in airport infrastructure and airside safety to maximise equipment uptime and ensure adherence to ICAO and DGCA airside maintenance standards. I am looking forward to discussing this with existing and future clients.
