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The toilets at the integrated terminal need to be cleaned more often. (Amit Datta)
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Two fliers whose high expectations had a rough landing at the new airport terminal have written to Metro about their disappointments and concerns. Here’s what they have to say
In Calcutta now, after a chaotic arrival from Dubai, due to malfunctioning of everything of the newly-constructed international airport.
I really cannot understand how such a semi-commissioned airport is allowed to be open to public service.
First, the server was down and so immigration had come to a halt. I saw people from previous flights also standing in queue silently, bearing the pain without any protest for reasons unknown. I started shouting at the officials and a few others joined me. And so they finally decided to let us go after manual entry.
Then came the fiasco of luggage. It took nearly one-and-a-half hours to get the luggage.
Such callous attitude of employees is not seen anywhere other than this city of joy! My biggest bother was not being able to see any of the senior officials who run the show. Only the poor lower-grade employees were exposed to public fury as pawns.
I now have started to believe this city has no professional future due to the callous approach of the officials who are at the helm of affairs to manage the show.
They are hell bent on turning this city of joy into a city of pain with their utmost dedication and they are tasting success already.
It’s a shame for Bengal.
Anupam Bose, who works in Abu Dhabi
My desire to see the all-new Calcutta airport was whetted when I landed at the Hyderabad airport last Thursday. It was swanky, spic and span. One of the cleanest airports I have seen. It is well managed and all the self check-in counters were working perfectly. I also noticed what is perhaps the biggest exclusive security zone for women at any Indian airport.
While waiting at the Hyderabad airport lounge for my Calcutta flight on Friday evening, a few co-passengers asked me if our flight would land at the new airport terminal in Calcutta. Before I could reply, a co-passenger piped up that the new terminal was very poorly managed.
While landing most passengers had their eyes glued to the windows to catch the first glimpse of the new terminal.
But a bit of the excitement disappeared when instead of an aerobridge, we had to climb down the same old stairs. As we walked in, I realised that the huge glass doors were kept open. In all other airports, the glass doors automatically open and close. I wonder how the air-conditioning will work if the glass doors are kept open like this.
First things first, there were no proper directions to the washrooms. There was a board with ‘men’, ‘women’ and ‘wheelchair’ signs but without any directional arrows.
And then, the worst fears came true: the brand new airport does NOT have clean toilets. And no attendants near the washrooms either. It was very evident that cleanliness — just like in the old terminal — is not a priority here.
After coming out of the terminal there was a huge traffic snarl.
There is no doubt that the new Calcutta airport looks as good as those in other cities but as far as maintenance is concerned, things are looking bad. It needs a lot more attention. Brick and mortar is only a part of the package, what is more important is maintenance and management of airports.
Sundeep Bhutoria,
frequent flier
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