The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Stir unjustified: air passenger association

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 04, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Stir unjustified: air passenger association

Special Correspondent

Says Centre has promised job security for AAI employees

CHENNAI . While welcoming the Centre's move to modernise the Mumbai and Delhi airports, the Air Passengers' Association of India (APAI) has described the current strike by the Airports Authority of India Employees' Joint Forum (AAIEUJF) as "unjustified".

"It is not justified as the Government has promised job security for over 60 per cent of the AAI employees," D. Sudhakara Reddy, founder and president of APAI, told a press conference here on Friday.

Appealing to the Government to consider developing new Greenfield airports of international standards in Mumbai and Delhi and in other cities , Mr. Reddy said this was needed as space and other constraints at the existing airports would pose restrictions on the need-based expansion.

Time frame sought

Taking into consideration the phenomenal growth likely in air traffic, Mr. Reddy sought a time frame for the modernisation of the two airports to be set and adhered to. "Penalties for any delay must also be clearly defined and could include a higher percentage payable to the AAI as most of the basic infrastructure were already on the ground," he said. Also, an undertaking from the bidders should be taken that there will be no increase in either the passenger service fee or facilitation charges. Along with the modernisation of terminal buildings, the mandatory communication and navigational aids should be upgraded to international standards and kept operational at all times.

The APAI questioned whether safety audits were conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), especially adherence to safety regulations by the mushrooming private carriers. Mr. Reddy said the mandatory International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) guidelines of conducting "stay over check" were not being adhered to by the private airlines.

"The APAI urges the Director General of Civil Aviation to look into this serious violation by the private carriers," he said.

On whether the DGCA, the apex regulatory body, was equipped with trained technical manpower and resources to handle the air traffic growth, Mr. Reddy said it was high time that the Government thought of constituting an independent National level Transportation Safety Board.

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