Chaos reigns at airports

Overflowing dustbins, filthy toilets, stationary conveyer belts, unattended trolleys, dysfunctional airconditioners and scarce drinking water were the order of the day at the airports today as the strike by the Airport Authority of India employees entered its second day.

However, airlines carried on with their normal operations, with only minor delays. Kolkata airport was the least disturbed. The airport, which was in complete disarray yesterday, witnessed normal operations as the air traffic control reported back to work.

In Mumbai, newspapers and garbage littered terminal buildings as thousands of workers, including cleaners, struck work. Police maintained heavy bandobast and cordoned off the entry point at the terminal building to facilitate passenger movement.

Two companies of the Rapid Action Force and an additional police force were deployed to prevent any untoward incidents, the police said.

However, airports sources admitted that there were consequential delays and disruptions due to non-availability of aerobridges and baggage segregation conveyors. "Passengers themselves went out to organise trolleys as there were no conveyor belts in the baggage make-up area. But there were no major hiccups in the flight schedule," they said.

Airport Director R Treasuryvala said the AAI had deployed Indian Air Force personnel and city fire brigade to ensure smooth handling of operations at airports.

"We have already designed a contingency plan in the wake of the strike. However, there was no paper work at the Mumbai airport and the cargo handling operations were reduced. AAI has deployed 500 staff at vital points to monitor the operations at the airport," Treasuryvala said.

In Delhi, the airport authorities took recourse to Sulabh International, a non-government organisation, at the Haj terminal to maintain essential services.

The airport management admitted that their hands were tied and they could not hire more help lest the strikers might attack them. About 1,000 strikers outside maintained vigil shouting anti-government slogans.

"No one has gone to work. People who came at night sat in the car parking area and did not report for work," said Ranvir Singh, regional secretary of the Airport Authority Employees' Union (AAEU). A number of flights took off and landed without the fire services on duty.

There was heavy security at the Delhi Airport, with the CISF, CRPF and Delhi Police forces deployed in large numbers.

Hundreds of striking employees blocked the main approach to the domestic terminal. "The road blockade will continue indefinitely," said Joy Lal, joint general secretary of the AAI employees union.

However, by the afternoon, order was restored. Frantic efforts were being made by the authorities at the Chennai airport to normalise cargo delivery operations. Cargo delivery has been affected with practically all the 1,500 employees joining the strike.

Indian Air Force staff were called in to replace striking workers. Hyderabad, too, saw demonstrations today, with active participation of women employees. The flights were normal, but far fewer passengers were seen at the airport today than on other days.

However, the scene at the Bangalore airport, owned and managed by defence public sector enterprise Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, was normal, except for 20-25 employees holding a dharna in the afternoon.

At the Chennai airport, the garbage remained uncollected and some toilets overflowed. Cargo services were affected.

The employees stayed away from work, gathered in front of the domestic terminal and held demonstrations and meetings.