Anti-slip measures for Terminal 3 floor

Hindustan Times had, on May 7, reported that Terminal 3’s floor was proving to be too slippery for the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) staff’s daily exercises since removal of the carpet.

Flyers travelling from Delhi airport’s Terminal 3 need not worry about slippery floors as the airport operator has said it has taken additional slip-resistant measures to ensure safety.

Flyers travelling from Delhi airport’s Terminal 3 need not worry about slippery floors as the airport operator has said it has taken additional slip-resistant measures to ensure safety.

Hindustan Times had, on May 7, reported that Terminal 3’s floor was proving to be too slippery for the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) staff’s daily exercises since removal of the carpet. As a result, the CISF formed a special committee to replace shoes of 4,000 personnel at Delhi airport.

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) officials, however, said the floor is as per international standards and completely user-friendly. “Besides, additional slip-resistant measures have been taken to ensure safety of flyers and other users on the newly installed floor on the ramp,” DIAL officials said in response to a query sent by HT.

Elaborating further on the removal of carpet, DIAL officials said, “The carpet is being removed from both sides of the travellator in T3 departure piers. The carpet replacement process in the T3 departure piers would be done in a phased manner.”

The operator also plans to reuse the carpet. “We will scrap the worn-out part, and clean the parts in good condition for reuse,” DIAL maintained.

According to DIAL sources, about 30% of the carpet has been removed and the entire process will be over by next year. About 30,000 square metre of the 170,000 square metre carpet will be removed and most part is near the travellators.

Installed in 2010, the carpet at Delhi airport’s Terminal 3 set off a divisive public debate on aesthetics. The carpet, spread over 170,000 square metres, was manufactured in Mulshi, near Pune, and transported to Delhi in pieces. DIAL, which operates Delhi airport, never revealed the cost of carpet and maintained that it is part of the project cost of Terminal 3, which was ₹6,750 crore. The cost of replacing the shoes of the CISF personnel at the airport is expected to be ₹35-₹40 lakh. And that’s why the committee will decide if it is cost-effective or not.

So far, passengers have complained about slow movement of trolleys on it and security officials spoke about difficulties in walking dog squad.