Changi is the best in the world, Its like a huge modern shopping mall from where u go home via a plane. Hong Kong (2nd best) too is magnificient, u wanna forget ur connection flight and just stay there. Its so huge but the distances covered so fast, thanks to the frequent automated electric trains. I have been to Kansai also (5th) and the service there is so smooth. Fastest clearance in immigration, customs etc. Well infrastructure-wise mumbai and blore airports are atleast 1 century behind, and i have no hopes of catching up in any time soon. But as you pointed out, they can definitely offer better service. Couple of examples : 1. We reached mumbai intl AP after 12 hrs of smooth journey frm Japan, absolutely no hassles. we are waiting for our luggage by the conveyer and what we see there - CHAOS. Totally crowded, suitcases are falling over and opening up, ppl running all around to collect their falling luggage. 2. We have to take the transit bus from Intl to Domestic in mumbai. The flight to Blr is at 1:00 AM and we are about to take transit bus but the constable there refuses us - reason, time is 11 PM but our tickets are for next day so he can't let us! Had to pay Rs 50!!
I totally agree with writer.AIRPORTS in India.They plan for revenue coming from tourism,world power etc.Why don't Indian goverment look at shobby state of Airports in India.Which puts the first impression.Come to Delhi international airport.Long queue for customs there you feel lucky if you are lucky to be relative of some VIP as there will be no waiting for u.Then immigration counter itself gives you a idea what u going to face further now at airport.Try to go bathroom.U have to give money that too in dollars.Forget about bathroom conditions.No one is there to help you out.You don't even know where to go and whom to ask for help. Union what they are doing to get rid of all these problem.If you ask people like me ,they must be having same problem. Prafful Patel is right it is more like another bulding made by PWD that it. Till time people like Prakash Karanth,Sitaram Yethurcy are there in Indian poltics forget about India getting into Developed Country.Sorry Mr President your dream doesn't look realistic till communist are there. Small town airports are much more better in US then our Delhi and Mumbai International Airport
I could'nt agree more with the writer. The public services sector in India would be one of the worst in the world if not the worst. Airports give the first impression about the country to anyone travelling there. Its time we start thinking about imporving/changing the way services works in India.
Excellent article. I am a victim of these atrocities at the airports in India for several years. But since I am part of great Indians with ability to tolerate virtually everything, I always just swallow my sorrows since I am one of those helpless citizens of India. But then it is not only at the airports afterall. Everything, practically everthing has to changed if India has to say we are great. First of all the attitude towards a fellow human being has to change. As he rightly mentioned Those AAI employees regard us as someone who has encroached upon their time. In my opinion private management may perform better than these govt employees.
Absolutely agree with the author. When I went to leave relatives, a seller of cold drinks, charged me 10 bucks more than the correct rate. He was handicapped, and probably assumed that taking someone for a ride, could be easier! After we confronted him and threatened him with punitive action, he returned the money. This is a regular feature in the airport, passengers are over-charged and don't even realize it! We need to ask for the rate card, when we travel...
Very good article. It boldly describes the problems faced in Indian airports and the services denied to the people who use the airports.
I live in the UK with my family for the past 11 years. Our experience of using Mumbai and Delhi airports is 10/11 years ago! Never again. What a horrible experience we had! Landing at midnight with young children, luggages and travelling to the domestic terminal and spending the rest of the night under a fan on a hot summer night.
We visit India every year and never again travelled via Delhi or Mumbai or Chennai to reach our destination Trivandrum. Over the years we have travelled via Doha, Abudhabi, Dubai, etc. But I must tell you that we have noticed that the services at the Trivandrum airport have improved over the years. Except on one occation (an immigration officer unnecessarily trying to show his authority) we had no issues over these years.
All Airports in India suck, and the terminals are way too small, just one delayed flight will fill entire terminals. The lack of seating space, and the filthiness - sofas that look like they've not been cleaned since your ancestors of at least 10 Generations back used them, and they are so not comfortable! Not to mention the (mis)information terminals! Half the time they are out to get you confused!! Privatise, Privatise, Privatise! And DONT allow for monopoly! Please!
AAI cannot manage the airports. Plain and simple. Toilets at the international airports are a very good example. The public toilets maintained by Sulabh are much better than these toilets. Its not about runways and buildings but about service. Then comes the CISF. They are the most corrupt police force. It makes me shudder whenever I think that the safety of the air passengers are in the hands of these guys. One experience is of mine when I was asked to remove the purse and put in the plastic box there while i was undergoing security check. After my security check I forgot the purse and moved on. I realised and came back a minute later only to find out that one twenty dollar bill is missing from my purse. This is on my first visit to US, when those dollars are my hardearned rupees. The second experience is of my cousin. He was visiting India along with his foreign boss. During the security check, his boss has given the purse to the security guys. Once the security check is done, he realised that all the money in his purse is missing. This is about 500 dollars. When my cousin complained and refused boarding the plane, one of the officers returned the money saying they found it.
