Passengers
bound for Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Chennai reaching the
Visakhapatnam airport after 8 a.m. are getting jittery on seeing the long
queues at the baggage screening, check-in, and security check counters.
As many as four flights land between 8.30 a.m. and 9 a.m. and
all of them are big flights. Around 400 passengers are flying out on an average
during the period on any given day. For instance, passengers carrying laptops
are likely to face a problem identifying once past the security screening, due
to shortage of staff. The passengers are asked to identify their laptops from a
large pile at the end of the screening and there is a danger of passengers
collecting the wrong laptop either wantonly or otherwise.
It is learnt that the shortage of manpower and check in counters
is adding to the woes of passengers. A similar problem is being encountered
during the evenings also. There are 114 Central Industrial Security Force
personnel at present. Their duties include access control, checking hand
baggage, and anti-hijacking operations.
The new terminal building at the airport became operational in
2009 and traffic has increased manifold over the years. The authorities had
sought provision of 147 additional CISF staff a year ago but the file is yet to
be cleared by the government.
There are three security check booths – two for men and one for
women – at the new airport building. The shortage of frisking machines is also
adding to the delays, according to passengers.
“We are trying to minimise the waiting time at the counters by
arranging an extra booth for male passengers during the rush hours despite
shortage of manpower.
The government has recently agreed to sanction additional CISF
staff,” Airport Director K. Srinivasa Rao told The Hindu when his attention was drawn to the
problem.
He also attributed the long queues at the counters to passengers
checking-in at the airport at the eleventh hour.
Flight to Port Blair
Here’s good news for people travelling to Port Blair. Air India
will soon introduce a flight to Port Blair. AI is already operating from Delhi
to Port Blair via Bhubaneswar six days a week. “We sought diversion of that
flight at least twice a week via Visakhapatnam,” Mr. Srinivasa Rao said.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/delays-at-city-airport-make-passengers-jittery/article4139317.ece
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