With Planning Commission keen on privatising the Chennai airport, it looks like the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is rushing towards commissioning of the new terminals at the city airport.
While airlines have refused to take part in the departure trial run at the new domestic terminal for want of basic facilities like concessionaries and aerobridges, the arrival trial run at the international terminal has brought a lot of teething issues the fore.
“When the AAI chairman was in the city last time, he said the new terminals would be opened only after all facilities are in place. He said the authority is ready to even wait for six months.
But this time, he informed us that the buildings would be commissioned anytime after August 15. So we feel, the privatisation talks have something to do with this urgent opening plans,” said an airport official.
The AAI has not yet floated tender for appointing master concessionaire. “Usually, the airport director is bestowed with all powers to call for tender.
But this time everything is under the control of AAI headquarters and no steps have been taken yet. The AAI is only trying to get the present concessionaires to move to the new terminal,” added an airport source.
In the new international terminal, the gradient of the ramp is said to be slightly higher making it difficult for tractors to carry heavy load.
While a senior AAI official said the ramp cannot be redone and the airlines should get latest transport to scale it, airport officials agreed that the inclination is slightly on the higher side.
However, they brushed aside the issue of lack of space in immigration by noting that the counters could be moved a little bit forward to accommodate more passengers.