Date:02/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/02/stories/2006020203760100.htm

Back Airport employees strike work; flight operations normal: Govt
Traffic disruption mostly felt in Kolkata

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An employee of the Airports Authority of India protesting against privatisation at the IGI domestic airport in the Capital on Wednesday. — Kamal Narang

New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Feb. 1

DESPITE large-scale agitation by sections of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) employees protesting against the modernisation of the Delhi and Mumbai airports by private companies, the Government maintained that air services throughout the country remained largely unaffected on Wednesday.

"The flight operations of all domestic airlines have remained normal throughout most of the country. There has been no drop in passenger loads carried by the airlines today. The only region where there has been some disruption in flights is in Kolkata. This is mainly because personnel were unable to reach and man the fire engines. We have to ensure the safety of the passengers and therefore no flights will be operated till late this evening," the Civil Aviation Secretary, Mr Ajay Prasad, said.

Seeks machinery support: To ensure that the flights to Kolkata return to normalcy at the earliest, the Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, spoke to the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattarcharjee, and requested that the state machinery help maintain normal services at the airport.

On imposing Essential Services Maintenance Act against the striking workers, the Secretary said the Government would not like to start by taking harsh measures. "We have explained to the workers how the Government is taking all steps to protect their best interests even after the modernisation process is started. The two successful bidders have agreed to absorb 60 per cent of the AAI staff although the Government had mandated that they need to absorb only 40 per cent of the workforce. Besides, the process will see AAI grow and have more revenues to focus attention on developing more airports," he said.

Notice to Airmen withdrawn: By late evening, however, flight operations to-and-from Kolkata resumed after the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM),which resulted in flights to the city being stopped, was withdrawn at 6 p.m. Both Jet Airways and Indian Airlines were working towards operating their evening flights, senior officials of both the airlines said.

Sources indicated that a special Air India flight carrying Haj pilgrims was scheduled to land in Kolkata late tonight and some of the passengers would be flown to Patna in an Indian aircraft.

For the period that the NOTAM was in operation, the Kolkata airport wore a deserted look with the baggage X-ray machines, conveyor belts, electronic display signboards and aerobridges becoming non-functional and even the public address system went silent.

Scene at Mumbai: In Mumbai, where flights were operating with delays of 15-20 minutes, there were some skirmishes between the striking workers and the police. Sources indicated that about 25 workers were injured when the Mumbai Police tried to cordon off a part of the entrance to the departure terminal, which was occupied by the employees. In the lathi charge that followed some workers were said to have been injured.