This is how AAI unions revamp their airport

Inside the terminal, the stench of toilets that had not been cleaned for two days was unbearable. The toilets adjacent to the VIP lounge were flooded and the sewer water had begun to seep out into the lounge.

Kamla Narayan, 65, said the situation at the airport was getting serious with all 12 toilets practically unusable. ‘‘I am a diabetic and have to frequent the toilets. There is no electricity or water in the toilets which are completely choked and littered with garbage from overturned dustbins. Even the pay-and-use toilets outside the terminal are closed. Our flight to Mumbai has been delayed by over three hours and it is becoming difficult to wait here,’’ she said.

With water from the toilets threatening to enter the VIP lounge and the attached offices, the airport manager himself came out to close a running tap in the men’s toilet.

‘‘Koi staff hi nahi hai... the place is in a mess. If housekeeping operations don’t begin tomorrow, things will become very unhygienic and unmanageable here. With almost 10,000 passengers per day, we need round-the-clock service and it has been two days now without any cleaning,’’ he said.

With most coffee-vending machines closed, waiting passengers crowded around the two operating snack bars. The rest of the closed eateries were only serving as stand-by dustbins.

Ferrying luggage inside is another story. With all the trolleys stacked inside the terminal and the protestors refusing to allow them outside, people were seen dragging in suitcases and bags.

Rupinder Kaur with her six pieces of luggage and a one-and-a-half-year-old child had to do several rounds before she could bring all her luggage for security check.

‘‘What kind of a strike is this? At least trolleys should be made available to passengers. As it is, taxis are dropping us a kilometer away from the terminal and one has to walk all the way. How are we to manage with little children with us?’’ said Rupinder.

Mehul Pandya, who works in a pharmaceutical company in Bangalore, said that he was planning to cancel his return flight from Bangalore to Delhi next week after witnessing the scene at the airport.

‘‘This is just too shocking. The toilets are in a state worse than roadside urinals. How is one supposed to use them, and worse still, eat in a place stinking like on huge public urinal? I had to walk almost two-three km with all the luggage. If there had not been an urgent meeting in Bangalore tomorrow, I would have happily cancelled this flight,’’ said Pandya.