The Hindu : Business : Shortage of emigration staff hits airlines' operations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 04, 2007
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Business

Shortage of emigration staff hits airlines' operations

A Correspondent

`Fresh recruitment to emigration wing soon'

NEDUMBASSERY: The Cochin International Airport has found itself in a bind owing to delay in the operation of international flight services caused by the shortage of manpower in the Emigration department.

The Emigration wing is literally running the office with 20 sub-inspectors, with two 24-hour shifts of 10 officers each; five each at the arrival and departure terminals. Hence ensuring smooth conduct of Emigration duties is proving to be an impossible task.

Passengers have to wait in serpentine queues extending beyond the designated Emigration area for hours together, putting many of them at risk of missing their connection flights.

The delay in clearing passengers leads to delay in services, thereby upsetting the entire scheduling of airline companies.

The airlines eventually end up providing food and accommodation to the passengers besides paying compensation in some cases. As it is Christmas season, managing a fresh booking, especially to American and European destinations, becomes all the more difficult.

The offices of foreign airlines here are besieged with enquiries from the respective headquarters regarding the failure to maintain schedule, it is learnt.

According to an airline official, the present situation was caused by the blind allotment of slots for operation of services without ensuring that necessary infrastructure and manpower were in place.

A negative message about the Kochi airport is being sent out across the globe and would even impact the tourism prospects of the State, another airline official said.

Later, at a meeting with Shriram Bharath, Managing Director of the airport company, the airline representatives were informed that the matter had been taken up with the Home Ministry. Mr. Bharath told The Hindu that he had discussed the issue with officials of the Home Ministry and Director-General of Police. He said more hands would be recruited soon.

The emigration wing here has a sanctioned strength of 60 sub-inspectors, who man the counters.

According to sources, even this sanctioned limit is far less than the requisite strength as it was fixed long ago and was not increased in proportion with the manifold increase in the number of services and the movement of passengers through the airport.

Of the allotted 60 SIs, 18 posts are vacant following transfers and as many as 16 officials are on medical leave. Three officers are under suspension for fraudulent practices, one on long leave and two officers have been assigned for office administration and computer operation.

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