MIDNIGHT MADNESS @ IGI AIRPORT

TAKING CUE FROM OUR LAST ENTRY, THE HINDUSTAN TIMES, DELHI TOO DID A REPORT ON IGI AIRPORT TODAY (29th AUGUST, 2004). HERE'S WHAT THEY HAVE TO STAY:


A team from HT spent an entire evening at IGI airport examining the facilities available and the problems passengers faced. Irate passengers had lots to say about their harrowing experiences at the country’s premiere airport

At 11-30 p.m., the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport is busy. Busy living up to its reputation of being crowded, chaotic and unfriendly. Hundreds are waiting in front of the four gates leading to the check-in area. Many are sitting on the floor or on bulky suitcases, few are leaning on the trash can, overflowing with refuse and adorning gate no. 1.

The stretch, little more than 100 metres in length and less than 20 metres in width, is packed with people, vehicles and the burden of peak hour IGI traffic.

The chaos at the IGI Airport during peak hours, roughly between 9-30 p.m. and 2-30 a.m., is on schedule every night, even if flights arn't. On an average, 35 flights take off or touch down in these five hours. ``Kumbh mela'', that's how an airport official describes the daily congregation and confusion, the only difference being that it happens every night.

The lone traffic cop on duty in front of the departure terminal is snarling at sullen, sleepy drivers. His effort, sadly, gets drowned in the incessant honking from dozens of vehicles, including DTC buses. A traffic crane threatens to tow away parked cars - its illegal to park vehicles in front of the four departure gates - but ends up only threatening. Cars remain parked anyway.

Near gate no. 1, Satish Jain's attention is divided between his relatives, insisting on hugging him in turns, and the very important search for a trolley to transport his luggage to the check-in area. About 15 minutes later, Jain is himself hugging a man who gave him some sympathy and a trolley.

The check-in area during the peak hours is drowned under thousands of people and tonnes of luggage. There are half a dozen queues snaking around the area with groups of people waiting, in-between the lines, and staring blankly.

And in case you are as unlucky as Jagjit Singh, a natty teenager from Punjab on his way to Italy, to fall in the ``I have a problem'' loop, send up a silent prayer. There was some problem with his ticket reservation to Moscow and he found himself being dismissed everywhere, by both airline as well as airport officials.

Officials say the chaos is inevitable till ``structural changes'' are brought about. But till then, they are content in not finding IGI anywhere near the list of the best 20, even 30, airports in the world.

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Official defence

IGI Airport Director P S Nair talks to HT

HT: The peak hour comes every night. Then why is there no plan in place to resolve the chaos?

PSN: We need one more terminal to decongest the peak hour rush. One new and big terminal is intrinsic to the new structural changes that would be soon brought about at IGI. But till a new terminal comes up, the congestion will continue. We have also been forced to bunch flights because of landing restrictions at night in most European airports.

HT: Airport officials are accused of rude and indifferent behaviour. The tourism minister has been talking of giving ``smile'' lessons to airport staff. Your comment?

PSN: We have already had training sessions with around 1400 airport staff. The theme was on the lines of 'a smile doesn't cost anything''. Even CISF personnel and Custom officials were included in the sessions. More such sessions will be held.