Minister asks Chennai airport to ease congestion at domestic terminal

Chennai airport will reposition some of the food and beverages stalls to provide more space in the security hold area in the domestic terminal, the Airport Director, HS Suresh said on Sunday.

Speaking to Business Line, Suresh said that about four to five food kiosks which were getting into the security hold area in the domestic terminal will be repositioned to provide more space to passengers.

“We should be able to do this in about a month,” he added.

The decision to reposition the kiosks follows the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Ashok Gajapathi Raju, asking Airports Authority of India to take immediately action to ease the congestion in the security hold area of the domestic airport in Chennai.

The Minister also suggested improvements in the passenger sitting areas so that the passenger flow area in the passages can be wider.

The Minister said that AAI should engage a professional horticultural consultant for developing greenery on the air side of terminal buildings and in the vertical garden area.

“We explained to the Minister that more greenery will be available at the airport once the work being done by Chennai metro is complete.,” the Airport Director explained.

In response to complaints from some passengers about the upkeep of toilets and better eating facilities, the Chairman, Airports Authority of India, informed the Minister that the new agency is in the process of mobilising men and machinery.

The decision to carry out the airport inspection was taken by the Minister after complaints from Members of Parliament cutting across party lines.