Over 2,500 workers at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport went on a flash strike, even as the Airports Authority of India Employees Joint Forum announced an indefinite stir from Wednesday against privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports.
Shortly after the government announced selection of bidders for the revamp of the two metro airports, the workers at Mumbai airport went on a flash strike, but officials maintained that there was no disruption of flights.
In New Delhi, the AAI officers associations also decided to launch a relay hunger strike to protest the decision to award the airport contracts to GMR and GVK led consortia.
"We will not join duty from 10 am on Wednesday," Forum sources said.
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, who ruled out invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act against striking workers, said: "We have made alternative contingency plans to meet any disruption in air traffic. But I don't foresee any such situation developing."
Indian Air Force personnel, including its air traffic controllers, have been put on emergency standby should the need arise.
Earlier in the day, services barring flight traffic were affected in the NSC Bose International Airport in Kolkata as over 2,000 workers affiliated to the Joint Action Committee staged a sit-in.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier in the day, services barring flight traffic were affected in the NSC Bose International Airport in Kolkata as over 2,000 workers affiliated to the Joint Action Committee staged a sit-in.
{{/usCountry}}About 400 employees participated in a sit-in at the administrative building of the Thiruvananthapuram airport.