Sahar residents protest against safety lapses at city airport

Mumbai: Hundreds of locals from Sahar in Andheri came out on the streets on Friday to protest against safety lapses at the airport that put lives of thousands of travellers at risk.
Protestors, carrying garlands and binoculars, poked fun at the airport management because the country’s second busiest airport witnessed four cases of near air disasters in less than a month following the Mangalore crash that killed 158 people.
“Until 2006 the air traffic controllers (ATC) handled 350 movements (take-offs and landings). Today, that has jumped to 750 movements every day but their manpower is still the same,” said social activist Nicholas Almeida, who led the protest. Currently, the city airport is short of more than 100 ATC officials.
Protestors, who reside in the vicinity of the airport, also demanded that the number of flights per hour be curtailed to 30 from 35 to ensure safe operations.
The demonstrators alleged that the private consortium that took over the airport in 2006 is interested in commercial gains instead of upgrading the airfield infrastructure.
12/06/10 Hindustan Times

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Categories: Airports Jun 2010, Safety Jun 2010