Buggies at Chennai airport terminals irk passengers
TNN | Mar 18, 2019, 08:49 IST
Chennai airportCHENNAI: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has allowed battery operated buggy cars to ferry travellers inside the international and domestic arrival terminals at Chennai airport.
Though the move was implemented to help senior citizens and disabled passengers, it has irked the travellers who choose to walk since the frequent movement of these cars is creating inconvenience.
A traveller who returned from Dubai recently said, “These cars weave through the crowd who walk to the immigration counters from aerobridge or from the gates where buses drop passengers from the aircraft. The drivers keep honking. This often startles the passengers, especially those who have arrived after a long flight.”
He also said, “There is no space in the terminals for these vehicles to drive through. The passage to the immigration counters is narrow and is filled with people when two flights arrive at the same time.” The AAI has not installed boards nor do they make announcements about the availability of these cars.
A senior official of AAI said, “The battery cars that were used to transport people between the international and domestic terminals and metro station have been moved to the terminals. It is meant for senior citizens and disabled people as they walk from the aerobridge. For instance, walking from gate 17 at the international terminal to the baggage claim area could be impossible for some people. We have told the airlines to use it for this purpose. Others also can use them. It is free.”
Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) national president D Sudhakara Reddy said, “It is useful for passengers but it should be regulated better. I hailed the car recently — since the distance from the aerobridge to the counters is quite far— but he just drove away with one passenger.”
He also said that the move is good because most of the short-haul flights like those from Colombo are often parked at aerobridges that are farther from the terminal and people have to walk for along to reach the counters. “The cars should be kept only for senior citizens and the disabled. The drivers should be regulated and they should be told to carry more passengers who are in need of the service. They should discourage young and healthy people from using these carts,” he added.
Though the move was implemented to help senior citizens and disabled passengers, it has irked the travellers who choose to walk since the frequent movement of these cars is creating inconvenience.
A traveller who returned from Dubai recently said, “These cars weave through the crowd who walk to the immigration counters from aerobridge or from the gates where buses drop passengers from the aircraft. The drivers keep honking. This often startles the passengers, especially those who have arrived after a long flight.”
He also said, “There is no space in the terminals for these vehicles to drive through. The passage to the immigration counters is narrow and is filled with people when two flights arrive at the same time.” The AAI has not installed boards nor do they make announcements about the availability of these cars.
A senior official of AAI said, “The battery cars that were used to transport people between the international and domestic terminals and metro station have been moved to the terminals. It is meant for senior citizens and disabled people as they walk from the aerobridge. For instance, walking from gate 17 at the international terminal to the baggage claim area could be impossible for some people. We have told the airlines to use it for this purpose. Others also can use them. It is free.”
Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) national president D Sudhakara Reddy said, “It is useful for passengers but it should be regulated better. I hailed the car recently — since the distance from the aerobridge to the counters is quite far— but he just drove away with one passenger.”
He also said that the move is good because most of the short-haul flights like those from Colombo are often parked at aerobridges that are farther from the terminal and people have to walk for along to reach the counters. “The cars should be kept only for senior citizens and the disabled. The drivers should be regulated and they should be told to carry more passengers who are in need of the service. They should discourage young and healthy people from using these carts,” he added.
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