Kolkata: The clouds of unrest are gathering over Kolkata airport. Its director is set to depart at a crucial juncture when unions are gearing up for a strident agitation against the renewed privatization bid.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) executive director B P Sharma will take over as chairman and managing director of state-owned helicopter company Pawan Hans from Monday, barely three days before unions at Kolkata airport go on strike on March 11. AAI general manager (project) Kaushik Bhattacharjee will step in place of Sharma.
The last time the UPA-I government attempted privatization, unions had launched a virulent stir, picketing before the terminal, calling strikes, blocking normal operations and even sabotaging crucial services like the air-conditioning system.
With the then Left Front government in the state, then aviation minister Praful Patel was forced to back out and allow AAI to modernize the Kolkata and Chennai airports. Now the BJP government has revived the privatization effort, triggering a fresh round of protests.
07/05/15 Times of India
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Airports Authority of India (AAI) executive director B P Sharma will take over as chairman and managing director of state-owned helicopter company Pawan Hans from Monday, barely three days before unions at Kolkata airport go on strike on March 11. AAI general manager (project) Kaushik Bhattacharjee will step in place of Sharma.
The last time the UPA-I government attempted privatization, unions had launched a virulent stir, picketing before the terminal, calling strikes, blocking normal operations and even sabotaging crucial services like the air-conditioning system.
With the then Left Front government in the state, then aviation minister Praful Patel was forced to back out and allow AAI to modernize the Kolkata and Chennai airports. Now the BJP government has revived the privatization effort, triggering a fresh round of protests.
07/05/15 Times of India
