The Hindu : Airports panel for more passenger facilities

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 01, 2002

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Airports panel for more passenger facilities

By T.S. Shankar.

CHENNAI Feb. 28. The national-level passenger facilitation committee meeting of airports under the chairmanship of the Director General of Civil Aviation, (DGCA) which met at Chennai airport yesterday decided to create ``passenger refusal rooms'' at all the major airports especially where international flights operate.

The proposed spacious room with adequate facilities have to be created near the airport immigration counters to offer facilitation to these passengers, who for varied reasons are either not allowed to continue their journey or on arrival detained, the DGCA, H.S. Khola, told The Hindu after the three- hour meeting.

The meeting decided to man all the airline counters and gates to help provide expeditious clearance to the passengers that would ease the present congestion faced mainly at the Anna International airport in Chennai due to bunching of flights. In order to reduce long queues in front of the security hold areas before their departure at the airports, it was decided to ensure smooth flow of passengers, for each x-ray machine, there would be one gate.

Referring to the tout menace at Chennai airport, it has been decided to create ``anti-touts committee'' consisting of the AAI, the airlines, and securing agencies including the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

On the issue of delivery of mishandled baggage especially for international travellers, the meeting decided upon to direct the airlines concerned to make arrangements for home delivery by obtaining the customs clearance after getting the necessary declaration from the travellers that there are no dutiable goods inside these baggages.

On the non-manning of immigration counters at the airports, it was informed at the meeting that posting of additional manpower has been sought for ensuring manning of all counters especially during flight operation timings.

The meeting also discussed about the issue of shortage of embarkation and disembarkation cards and a streamlined procedure would be implemented for the distribution of 20 lakh cards among all the operating airlines.

With regard to clearance of bodies of dead persons through the airports, the meeting agreed to formulate a nation-wide standardised procedure.

Mr.Khola, is also the chairman of this committee which meets once in six months on rotation. It has representatives from all the ``operational agencies'' at the airports covering the Customs, Immigration, the BCAS, and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

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