Chennai airport has been in the news for quite some time now. For those of us who regularly come through its portals, some of the news sounds almost comic.
One of the articles in the dailies says Chennai airport is soon going to see Phase II of expansion, after which it will be like Singapore’s Changi airport. Another said that there will be a tunnel to connect the passenger and cargo terminals that are proposed in Phase II. The third report said that the airport is attempting a 10-day trial of operating the cross runway in order to increase the number of flights per hour.
So much in the works, and yet, no one is talking of improving the passenger experience.
Phase I of the airport’s expansion was ‘completed’ five years ago, and parts of the airport were opened to the public. There were of course the infamous incidents of false ceiling panels falling on passengers and glass cracking within a few months, but by and large, the passengers have learned to adjust.
Never mind that it is the only ‘modernised’ airport in the country that does not have inline scanning of bags when you check in for domestic flights. Never mind that they still have one, or at the most two, machines and booths for screening women passengers, as opposed to four or five for men, even though women account for much more than one fifth of the travelling public, especially in the holiday season. Little kids, boys and girls, invariably go with Mom, so the two women’s lines are always backed up. Sometimes, if you politely make a request, the CISF staff will agree to start a third line (they have the space to do it – inside a little alcove).
G Chandramouli, Director, Chennai airport told Citizen Matters Chennai, “There is a shortage in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) staff in Chennai airport. This is the reason for not being able to open all the gates for security. A manpower study conducted at the airport proposes to increase the CISF strength from the existing 1,200 members to 1,600. The proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Home for final sanction and approval. ”
22/01/18 Meenakshi Ramesh/Chennai CItizen Matters
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One of the articles in the dailies says Chennai airport is soon going to see Phase II of expansion, after which it will be like Singapore’s Changi airport. Another said that there will be a tunnel to connect the passenger and cargo terminals that are proposed in Phase II. The third report said that the airport is attempting a 10-day trial of operating the cross runway in order to increase the number of flights per hour.
So much in the works, and yet, no one is talking of improving the passenger experience.
Phase I of the airport’s expansion was ‘completed’ five years ago, and parts of the airport were opened to the public. There were of course the infamous incidents of false ceiling panels falling on passengers and glass cracking within a few months, but by and large, the passengers have learned to adjust.
Never mind that it is the only ‘modernised’ airport in the country that does not have inline scanning of bags when you check in for domestic flights. Never mind that they still have one, or at the most two, machines and booths for screening women passengers, as opposed to four or five for men, even though women account for much more than one fifth of the travelling public, especially in the holiday season. Little kids, boys and girls, invariably go with Mom, so the two women’s lines are always backed up. Sometimes, if you politely make a request, the CISF staff will agree to start a third line (they have the space to do it – inside a little alcove).
G Chandramouli, Director, Chennai airport told Citizen Matters Chennai, “There is a shortage in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) staff in Chennai airport. This is the reason for not being able to open all the gates for security. A manpower study conducted at the airport proposes to increase the CISF strength from the existing 1,200 members to 1,600. The proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Home for final sanction and approval. ”
22/01/18 Meenakshi Ramesh/Chennai CItizen Matters
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