Majid Ahmad
Srinagar, Sept 19: Prolonged security checks at the main drop gate of the Srinagar International Airport is causing hardships for air travelers as frequent traffic jams has become a routine affair outside the high security airport.
Due to the chaotic conditions prevailing around the drop gate, several passengers have missed their flights with the authorities failing to address the problem. The rush of Hajj pilgrims has added to the woes of air travellers.
Long queues of cars stretching right up to Humhama could be seen waiting anxiously for their turn to reach the main drop gate for the security clearance to make it to the terminal in time.
Sources disclosed to Early Times that the 'no-show' rate (failure of passengers to turn up in time) at the airport has considerably gone up during the past few years, much to the annoyance of the airlines and passengers. This, they said, is primarily because of the "stringent security set-up" and "inadequate facilities" in and outside the airport.
"The trouble for the passengers begins at the main-gate of the airport at Humhama where the vehicles they travel in are lined up for security check. The cars are allowed inside the gate one by one, making it difficult for passengers to catch their flights in time. Though another gate exists near the spot, it is hardly thrown open for the convenience of passengers," said an airline official, wishing anonymity.
"The problem is compounded by the VIPs and security officials who are given first priority at the drop-gate. Ideally there should have been a separate lane and security gate for VIP movement, which is not the case. It sometimes takes more than an hour to cross the Humhama point," he added.
200 to 300 passengers are lined up in a queue for at least 30 to 40 minutes before they are allowed to proceed towards the airstrip for boarding. This, according to the observers, troubles the elderly passengers, including the patients who are unable to stand in a queue for long. Apart from local passengers, even the tourists are seen fuming over the inconvenience.
According to officials, at least there should have been six security gates near the entrance and six inside the building to cater to the heavy rush of passengers, particularly during the peak season "This could help save a lot of time, especially when the Indian Air Force has asked all the airlines to ensure that they operate within six hours," an airport official said. "For flight baggage also, the airlines should have separate X-ray machines to lessen the rush."
Iqbal Ahmad, a passenger said that due to heavy rush at the airport drop gate he had to wait for almost an hour in the jam outside the entrance. "The security officials took more than the usual time for frisking passengers and scanning their luggage," he said
"Despite the airport has been upgraded to an international status there is no respite from the nasty traffic jams and prolonged security checks. There is a pressing need to install more X-ray machines and deploy more security personnel to make the check-in hassle-free," he demanded.
Sources said the Srinagar Airport was among the world's heavily guarded ones.
However, the Airport officials justify the hassles claiming that scenes outside the main drop gate were of a routine nature. "The traffic jam and security checks are routine affairs," a senior security official said.
Asked about the passengers missing their flights, he said, they should check in three hours before the departure. "Those who come just half an hour before departure will obviously miss their flights," he added. |
