Air services should not be hit: Centre to states

AAI Employees has threatened to stop work immediately after formal announcement of the contract for modernisation of airports.

With employees of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) threatening to go on strike, Centre on Tuesday asked authorities in various states to immediately put systems and arrangements in place to ensure there is no disruption in regular services at the airports.

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In letters to Chief Secretaries, DGPs and Commissioners of Police, Union Home Secretary VK Duggal said "the Centre is taking all steps to ensure safety of the working staff and passengers at the airports in view of the agitation by some segments of the employees of AAI against privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports".

Amid the ongoing process of opening financial bids for awarding airport mordernisation contracts, AAI Employees Joint Forum has threatened to stop work immediately after formal announcement of the contract for modernisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports.

Meanwhile, government is understood to have asked the Indian Air Force to standby for any contingency.

Duggal has also written to the authorities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Pune.