Ahmedabad airport: An ugly blot on its facade

Ahmedabad: Despite being the first access point for international travellers, the International Airport at Ahmedabad makes no effort to hide its ugly face. And, until the new airport building comes up in 2009, there will be no respite.
The airport, inaugurated in 1991, was designed to accommodate 250 passengers — enough for the two Air India flights operating weekly at that time. Sixteen years and many flights later, not only is there an acute shortage of space but the infrastructure is visibly crumbling under an ever-increasing load of more aircraft and more passengers.
With there being passengers of at least two to three airlines at the airport during the night, the security staff are hard-pressed for time during the passenger screening process.
The arrival lounge is chock-a-block with passengers waiting for their luggage. Since the baggage screening X-ray machine behind the conveyor belt is mostly unmanned, each suitcase, airbag and package has to be manually placed on the belt, which consumes time and increases the harassment of passengers clamouring for space in the small arrival enclosure.
Emirates, which will start a flight to Dubai in October, and Qatar Airways, which will start a flight to Doha in December, will only compound the problems.
22/08/07 Pulkit Vasudha/Ahmedabad Newsline

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Airports Aug 2007