The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Flights normal despite protest by AAI staff

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 02, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Flights normal despite protest by AAI staff

Staff Reporter

Slogans against UPA Government and Civil Aviation Minister

Bangalore: Though air traffic at the HAL airport here remained normal barring delayed flights to and from other destinations, about 150 Airports Authority of India (AAI) employees went around the airport, shouting slogans against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.

The nationwide strike called by the AAI employees to protest against the United Progressive Alliance Government's decision to privatise the modernisation work of Mumbai and Delhi airports evinced only a symbolic protest in Bangalore.

The strike lost much of its effect in Bangalore as the airport is run by the State-run aviation major, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Fire Services units of the airport are also managed by HAL. Air services were not affected by the strike here, said AAI regional director Krishnamurthy.

Leading the demonstration, secretary of the AAI Employees Joint Forum Stanley Sampath Kumar said the forum apprehended Bangalore would be the next airport to be privatised.

"The Mumbai and Delhi airports earn the maximum profit among the 124 airports in the country. With the privatisation of these airports, a major chunk of the profit would go to the private firms. They are cheating us in the name of modernisation," he alleged.

The Bangalore airport earned monthly revenue of about Rs. 11 crores.

Mr. Kumar said although the forum had submitted an alternative plan, it was rejected by the Centre. "The Airports Authority of India has resources of Rs. 3,000 crores. We have the technical know-how for the modernisation. The Centre has not gone through our plan at all," he said.

Regional Airport Authority Advisory Council (RAAAC) member Lahar Singh Siroya was at the airport to see whether the passengers faced any inconvenience.

"It is unfortunate that the situation has come to this state. The Congress and the Left parties should settle matters within and not let it spill over. It is a fraud played on the public," he told The Hindu.

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