Private Airlines Deny their Role in Delaying New Terminal Inauguration
by Florine Roche
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Apr 5: Private airline operators have denied the allegations that the delay in setting up checking counters by them is causing delay in the inauguration of the New Airport Terminal (NITB) Building at Mangalore Airport. Pramod Nair, Station Manager, Jet Airways, Mangalore, when contacted by daijiworld termed the allegations as rubbish. “Jet has finished 90% of the work in the NITB and the remaining 10% of the work will be finished once the inaugural date is finalized. We cannot shift our computer and other vital machinery much in advance as it will hamper our functioning at the present checking counter at the airport”, pointed out Pramod Nair who had participated in the Airport Advisory Committee meeting held in Mangalore Airport on March 27, 2010.
The representative of Kingfisher Airlines said that it would take 10 to 15 days for the company to complete their work at the NITB. “In fact we are waiting for the date to be finalized and once the date is intimated to us we will be ready in no time. But we cannot be blamed for the delay in the commissioning of the NITB”, said Geo George who has recently taken over as the new head of Kingfisher Airlines. National Airlines Air India is also not ready with its counter at the NITB and it is believed that financial sanction for the same is not done and typical of any government organization it will take its sweet time to do so.
According to reliable sources there are other serious troubles faced by NITB. There are apprehensions about the safety of the approach road to the new terminal which was scoffed of as not that grave. But with the D day approaching it is believed that considering the risk factor involved it has been decided to make it one way road to ensure smooth and easy movement of vehicles by providing for an access road from Deccan Park Side. According to reliable sources the approach road is narrow in certain paths and the gradient is quite steep and that would be cause hurdles on the easy movement of vehicles. Moreover, it is well known that the family members of travelers from Kasaragod usually come to receive or drop their relatives or family with huge vehicles accompanied by a big group of people. “If one such vehicle breaks down on this road there would be nothing but chaos as the entire traffic would come to a standstill”, said an airline official on condition of anonymity.
Then there is the controversy involving the Deccan Park with no amicable solution in sight. Deccan Park belongs to a private party and security wise anything close to the airport is considered to be a security risk. It is now believed that the party is demanding high price for vacating the plot and no consensus has been reached on this issue so far.
The Airport Advisory Committee in its recent meeting discussed about the development of access road from Deccan Park side. The road comes under the purview of Zilla Panchayat. Airport Authority of India has started the construction of link road from NITB to Deccan Park and it is believed that it would take about a month’s time for the work to get finished.
The so called rumours about the problems with regard to the approach road are now a reality. With problems galore even before the commissioning of the new terminal people are just keeping their fingers crossed hoping everything will be alright by the time the new terminal is ready for inauguration. Now it is just waiting for the D Day.
Daijiworld Follow-up: