Lack of trolleys hits passengers

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While the city airport is gearing up to open swanky new terminals, hundreds of passengers who reached Chennai on Monday were left stranded near the conveyor belt without adequate number of baggage trolleys most of which were lying outside the terminal.

About 1500 passengers, who alighted from six different flights between 8 am and 9 am, were affected by the lack of trolleys at the international terminal.

“I went out to get some trolleys for my friends and myself,” said Mr Mohammed Sheriff of Tiruvannamalai, who reached the city in a Sri Lankan Airlines flight.

“There are enough trolleys in the airport to cater to all passengers at any point of time. But the problem is with the contractors who have been appointed to collect trolleys and position them near the conveyor belts,” said an airport source.

The source added that the old contract had expired in March 2012 and the person who took the new contract discontinued within one month.

“Now the authorities themselves are maintaining it by employing a few people. However, many quit the job within a few days as they are paid only `125 per day,” he said.

A customs official said the arrival hall at the International terminal had faced terrible problems due to lack of trolleys on Friday and Saturday nights too.

“The new contract has not been regularised and the passengers are facing problems especially during night hours,” he added. The city airport handles 26 international flights every day between 8 pm and 8 am.