AIR TRAFFIC remained unaffected at Ahilyabai Holkar airport even as employees of Airport Authority of India (AAI) went on ‘tool down’ strike today against privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports. About 20 employees struck work in response to a call given by Airport Authority Employees Union in New Delhi.
All incoming and outgoing flights, including Airbus, operated on schedule from the airport till this evening, though employees struck work at around 11.25 am.
Agitating workers said they would continue their protest till the government withdrew its decision to hand over Delhi and Mumbai airports to private consortia.
Airport authority employees’ joint forum convener T Kurup said that they were not against modernisation, but were only opposing handing over the process to private players. “AAI is fully capable of doing that,” he said.
Though Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) were not on strike, the ATC Guild has expressed solidarity with agitating workers. Airport director James Natal said that steps had been taken to ensure smooth functioning of the airport.
“We are ensuring that all services, both air and ground, remain normal and all the facilities for passengers are unaffected. All contingency measures have been taken. Only some people are missing from duty, though the attendance is marked in full,” he said. He said that Indian Air Force personnel had been requisitioned to take charge at ATC and Fire Services.
Security at the airport was also beefed up. About 20 additional Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel were deployed at the airport. The Fire Wing of Bank Note Press, Dewas, had also been pressed into action.
{{/usCountry}}Security at the airport was also beefed up. About 20 additional Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel were deployed at the airport. The Fire Wing of Bank Note Press, Dewas, had also been pressed into action.
{{/usCountry}}According to Natal, adequate measures were taken to safeguard installations at the airport. Natal informed that damage to airport installations was an offence under Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Civil Aviation-1994 with provision for life imprisonment against violators.