NSCB International Airport Grime & Stink Spoil Day for Staff

February 17, 2004

Airport Grime & Stink Spoil Day for Staff
Times of India, India


KOLKATA: It might be boom time at NSCB International
Airport , with a 30 per cent increase in international
flight frequency, but it's definitely the pits for
airlines officials working here. 

The toilets are grimy and overflowing, and plastic
cups litter the floor where water sloshes around.
There is not even a bar of soap in the washrooms. The
water filter seems to be the general place for
everything — from spitting to rinsing one's mouth and
utensils after a meal. 

A top international carrier has stalled plans to add
another flight in the Kolkata sector because of the
"pathetic infrastructure" at the airport. "A senior
official who flew down to explore business
possibilities here went back thoroughly disappointed
with the facilities provided to airline officials,"
said an official of an international carrier. 

"Facilities for passengers are much better. Those
meant for airline officials are in really bad shape,"
said an official of another carrier. 

What really rubs it in is that the domestic airport,
which charges Rs 20 as entry fee, has much better
facilities than the international airport where
passengers pay Rs 200 as "service fee" and visitors
cough up Rs 50 as entrance fee. 

The absence of a food outlet adds to the problems of
officials and passengers alike. "I have not been able
to manage a glass of juice and some sandwiches despite
waiting for over 45 minutes after a 10 hour long
journey," said a passenger from Amman . 

The international airport has no restaurant to boast
of, except for a lone eating lounge run by a five star
hotel which charges a hefty Rs 150 as entrance fee.
There are only small beverage kiosks. 

"During flight delays, we have to wait for hours
without food or drink," said frequent flier Satwinder
Bedi. 

Airport director Rajendra Pal admits to "teething
problems" in infrastructure at the international
airport, but points at problems of his own. "We have
not received a single response for the two tenders
floated in the last two months for a restaurant within
the terminal," he says. 

Even the scrapping of the Rs 2 lakh license fee has
not helped matters. Pal attributes much of the
problems to the mere 10 per cent increase in passenger
load from the international sector. 

The lounge has been refurbished and efforts are on to
revamp the passenger facilities too, he said. On being
reminded of the dirty toilets for airlines officials
Pal said, "We have allotted Rs 20 lakh for the
complete overhaul and improvement of all the toilets
in the international airport. The project will take
three months for completion." 
 
 

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