Amritsar: Passengers at airport irked over poor sanitation

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 13

Though the number of international flights at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee international Airport has increased, passengers are not satisfied with the facilities being provided there. On Sunday, some of the passengers raised questions over poor sanitation and non-availability of seating arrangements outside the terminal. The passengers alleged that washrooms were unhygienic and poorly maintained.

Nancy, a passenger from Germany, said, “Toilets are broken, washroom is filled with water and roofs are leaking. One can’t use toilets in the guest area of the airport. If they clean the washroom inside the terminal, the authorities should take care of cleanliness in the washrooms in outer areas too.”

Vikas Kumar, another passenger, said, “There is no seating arrangement for passengers outside the terminal. The toilets are filthy, there is no soap in the toilets. The facilities are not as is required at an international airport.”

Activists of the organisation Fly Initiative claimed that the issue of cleanliness and renovation of washrooms has been highlighted many times and also mentioned in a letter earlier sent to the Union Ministry for Civil Aviation. “There should not be any excuse for poor upkeep, cleanliness and overall hygiene in public common areas both outside and inside the terminal. The agency responsible for housekeeping should be held accountable for these lapses and they should be directed to introduce a real-time feedback sheet as well as display their contact numbers in all public restrooms for passengers or their guests to raise immediate complaints for on-site resolution,” said Yogesh Kamra of Fly Initiative.

However, the activists claimed that the issue of seating arrangements outside terminal is not justified.

“There are seats placed outside airport and there is also an air-conditioned restaurant. Additionally, passengers can make use of paid visitor’s entry for the terminal waiting area meant for guests of passengers,” said Kamra.

It may be mentioned that keeping in view the increasing footfall of passengers at the Amritsar airport, the district administration had recently written to the state government for its expansion to accommodate its future needs.