Date:24/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/24/stories/2008032454750600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Rain-battered roads lead to new airport on first day

HYDERABAD: For scores of passengers and visitors, the top-notch amenities of Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad were alluring and in the same breath, a bit shocking. Clearly, the first day experience of air operations on Sunday at the airport left many passengers, a tad troubled even though they were enamoured by the unrivalled infrastructure.

Almost all passengers and relatives found themselves worrying about finances even while purchasing a cup of coffee, being sold at Rs. 56 per cup at the airport or calling for a radio-cab to reach city.

Cab rates

The high rates of cabs was a key worrying factor among domestic travellers.

The swanky domestic arrivals lobby of the airport was crammed with passengers searching for reliable information. A single information centre of GMR wasn’t helping their cause either.

While two huge electronic notice-boards were still waiting to get started, passengers had to take help from a small electronic notice board and the information centre.