The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : CBI probe sought into airport trolley contract

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Thursday, Nov 08, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

CBI probe sought into airport trolley contract

Staff Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Civil Aviation General Workers Cooperative Society has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged favouritism involved in awarding the contract for trolley retrieval service at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport.

In a memorandum submitted to the CBI Director, the workers’ society pointed that Airports Authority of India (AAI) official had ‘violated laws while awarding the contract thus causing financial loss to the tune of Rs.25,000 per annum’ and the contract was against AAI’s commercial interest.

The cooperative society, which had also participated in the bid along with three other institutions, pointed out that they were not informed regarding the time and date of opening of the price bid. One of the bidders who had no experience in handling the work was informed by AAI officials while opening the bid, the memorandum said.

“Despite quoting the highest amount of Rs.65 per trolley, we were denied the contract,” society chairman, Jude Sajith D’Cruz pointed out. The society alleged that the commercial manager had deliberately and purposefully avoided the society.

The society also pointed out that the firm that had been engaged in trolley retrieval service for the last three years had again been awarded the contract. “The contractor is following unhealthy labour practices and it has the silent consent of the officials,” he said.

As many as 33 trolley retrievers are deployed at the international airport. Many who were working for more than 15 years and were getting Rs.5000 monthly as salary are now being paid only Rs.500.

According to the workers, a sum of Rs.250 is meant for the supervisor. As many as nine retrievers are deployed in each shift.

“We do not get PF or ESI coverage and now the passes are issued for just seven days. The supervisor is demanding Rs.50,000 each from all of us for issuing permanent passes. We have already paid Rs.5,000 as the first instalment,” a worker said on condition of anonymity. The workers survive on the tips given by passengers.

Meanwhile, the Latheen Catholikka Aikyavedi also submitted a memorandum to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau seeking an investigation into the awarding of the contract.

When contacted, a top official of the AAI said the contracts were awarded as per the guidelines laid down by the AAI.

“There were only two bidders and it was awarded to the firm that quoted the highest amount. There is no substance in the allegations raised from some quarters,” he said.

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