The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Passengers’ woes continue at Shamshabad airport

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Wednesday, Mar 26, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Passengers’ woes continue at Shamshabad airport

M.L.Melly Maitreyi

Long drive and bad roads test one’s patience

Exorbitant fares charged by cabs are a major complaint
‘Confusion is because the airlines staff and passengers are new to this system’

HYDERABAD: Three days after commercial operations began at the swank new international airport at Shamshabad, things are far from smooth for passengers boarding and alighting different flights.

They are confused, irked and are at a loss to understand the lack of proper systems in place at the airport starting with computerised check-in counters. Absence of proper guidance by the staff to help or answer queries of the passengers is only piling up the agony.

The pain really begins during the long drive to the airport as poor connectivity and bad roads take their toll on one’s patience. Consequently, passengers and visitors are in no mood to put up with any inconvenience once they reach the airport.

“The airport is awesome but there is much to be desired about crowd management. Haphazard parking of vehicles and crowding near the gates makes it difficult for passengers to get in. Surprisingly, security was quite slack as no one asked me for my ticket!” exclaims Srinath, a senior executive.

Check-in counters

More display boards for domestic and international passengers and more cabin luggage check-in counters are needed to prevent long queues, he points out. With parking lots quite a distance away from the terminal, passengers have to walk a long way before going into the driveway to get into departure lounge”, says Dr. A. Srikanth.

While those taking escalators and lifts are being allowed freely, others are stopped at every step with security personnel seemingly having different rules for Indian and foreign passengers, he quips. Exorbitant fares charged by cabs are another major complaint from him and urges more bus services at the earliest.

A frequent flyer , N.L.N.Reddy, is upset with the pot-holed roads especially those taking the Chandrayangutta road to the Airport. Cell phone charging facility and better transport arrangements are urgently needed, he feels.

However, an airport spokesman explained that counters are being “allocated and re-allocated” by the Airport Operation Command Centre as per the flights schedule irrespective of airlines. It was unlike other Indian airports where passengers have airlines- specified check-in-counters.

There are 130 counters using Common User Terminal Equipment technology (CUTE) for check-in luggage and 15 counters with Common User Self Service (CUSS) for cabin luggage. The apparent ‘confusion’ is because the airlines staff and passengers are new to this system, he says and assures of things falling into place soon. Steps are also being made to streamline parking and amenities like water dispensers and beverages stalls across the Airport village. Low cost food counters too will be ready in a week’s time, he says.

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