Politicians give nightmares to hapless airport officials

NEW DELHI, JAN 6: Getting close to powers-that-be is every aspiring politician's leitmotif, and the chaotic situation at the domestic termin...

NEW DELHI, JAN 6: Getting close to powers-that-be is every aspiring politician’s leitmotif, and the chaotic situation at the domestic terminal of the Indira Gandhi International Airport seems to be ready proof.

For the vintage World War II terminal built in 1944, the coming mid-term polls seem to have worse in store. Utter chaos prevails at the airport everyday with netas of all hues and colours descending there along with their supporters. In the lingo of airport officials, the terminal was already dubbed as the “VIP courtesy” terminal, given the amount of VVIP and VIP movement it handles every day.

“We only have a limited capacity in the VIP parking lot. These days it has become worse. Most politicians have their show of strength at the airport, with their supporters surging in large numbers,”says an airport official.

As this reporter visited the airport on Monday evening, a serpentine queue of cars spilled onto the road outside the VIP parking lot. The elite SPG personnel with walkie-talkies gave company to gun-totting black cats while a number of party supporters with garlands and bouquets crowded the area to have an audience with their leader. “We have come to receive Mulayam Singhji. I can show that I have the support of people in my district. Also he is our leader, so why shouldn’t we come to receive him,” said K C Yadav, a Samajwadi Party activist. Yadav had a dozen supporters and an entourage of four cars.

While Mulayam was arriving from Khajuraho, sources confirmed that three former prime ministers H D Deve Gowda, Atal Behari Vajpayee and Chandra Shekhar, a former president, at least five cabinet minsters and three chief minsters, besides two dozen former MPs were expected in the evening.

“This is nothing new. As such we have a problem during peak hours with hordes of passengers coming to the airport. But the election season has added to our woes. What can we do, we can’t stop them,” says an airport official.

Airport officials say that during peak hours every day, as many as 50-60 VIPs who are covered under protocol requirements come to the terminal. They are to be provided VIP lounges, follow-me cars and ferry cars. “Our VIP lounge is occupied most of the time as we have to accord the courtesy to most people on our list provided by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Often their supporters create a ruckus on some issue which creates a problem,” an official says.

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According to sources, some days ago a cabinet minster missed his flight as he was left sipping his tea in the VIP lounge as the airport staff was busy pacifying the supporters of a former chief minister outside the lounge.“Even if their vehicles are not allowed to park in the VIP parking, they create a problem,” said an airport official.

Sources say that officials shy to be on duty at the domestic terminals because of the pressure from politicians. “It is really a pain to handle them. Even if they are not entitled, they’ll ask for a VIP car to the tarmac or for the use of the VIP lounge with their supporters.”

Airport director Harbans Kumar, said that Delhi has the largest VVIP movement. “Being the seat of the government, the number of VIPs at the airport is high. Often our officials are over stretched. We also have limited facilities you see,” he said.