By TIOL News Service

CHENNAI, SEPT 29, 2014: THE Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Ashok Gajapathi Raju, inspected the key infrastructural facilities of the Chennai Airport. During the inspection, Chairman AAA and other senior officials and Stakeholders were also present.

It may be recalled that the Minister wanted to personally visit the Chennai Airport based on the various complaints received by him through media and Stakeholders, regarding deficiencies in development of infrastructure as well as deficiency in maintenance standards of Chennai Airport. As part of the reviewing process, Mr Raju went around all the locations of the Airport such as Domestic Departure and Arrival Halls, walked through the city side entire terminal corridor, inspected the new international departure, existing terminal, Immigration and Customs areas, air side corridor etc. He also visited Air Cargo Complex and Fire Station.

On extensive survey of the area and detailed inspection of the facilities, the Minister said that Airports Authority of India has fairly attended to the deficiencies notified during the surprise visit carried out by the Ministry officials wherein there is still ample scope for further improvement in cleanliness of Terminals, maintenance of wash rooms and over all interior ambience, which should be done on sustained basis to improve the customers perception. The Minister also remarked that though the improvement is visible, he has directed AAI officials to look into the infrastructural issues where AAI can immediately take required action to ease the congestion in the Security Hold area of Domestic and security check points. Shri Raju also gave suggestions for improvement of passenger sitting areas by realigning certain concessionaire’s kiosks so that the passenger flow area in the passages can be wider for comfort of movement and spacious feel.

The Minister advised AAI that infrastructural improvements of any sort which can benefit travelling passengers should be taken up immediately as Chennai Airport is one of the flagship Airports of AAI and main gateway Airport to South India. He said that since Chennai Airport lacks the green posture, AAI should engage a professional Horticultural consultant to give a facelift for development of greenery on air side of Terminal Buildings and in the vertical garden area.

During the inspection, the Minister interacted personally with passengers at random and obtained one-to-one feedback regarding their experience of Chennai Airport. The passenger feedback was found to be fairly positive. However, some passengers requested for more food and beverage outlets. Some passengers also expressed the view that there was scope for authorities to improve the facilities related to hygiene in washrooms. Chairman, AAI informed the Minister that the facilities related to washrooms shall improve further as AAI has already placed modified upkeep and janitorial services. The new agency is in the process of mobilizing men and machinery. The Chairman, AAI also informed that the Master Concessionaire who is providing Food & Beverage outlets at Chennai Airport shall provide additional F&B outlets, as per the contract agreement, in forthcoming months and considerable improvement in options and varieties of F&B outlets for travelling passengers will be visible in couple of months.

While concluding the inspection, the Minister reiterated and emphasized that though AAI cannot do much into the deficiencies in the design of the Terminal Building, an effort can always be put into minor modifications to bring more spacious relief to travelling public.