Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 23 April 2024
The Island Joint Auto Unions Federation has taken a stand to address the inconvenience faced by departing passengers at Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair. In a formal letter addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman District and the Airport Director of Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair, the General Secretary of the Federation has appealed for the entry of auto rickshaws into the airport premises solely for the purpose of dropping off passengers.
Currently, authorities prohibit auto rickshaws from entering the airport premises, leading to numerous challenges for passengers who choose this mode of transportation. Departing travellers are compelled to walk from the main road to the terminal building with their luggage in tow. Despite the provision of luggage trolleys, a recent video report by Nicobar Times highlighted a shortage of trolleys near the airport entry point, exacerbating the ordeal for passengers.
The ban on auto rickshaws within the airport premises affects hundreds of passengers daily, adding unnecessary hurdles to their travel experience. The Island Joint Auto Unions Federation emphasises that their request is solely aimed at facilitating the smooth drop-off of passengers and does not extend to picking up passengers or waiting within the airport premises.
In the interest of passenger convenience and ensuring a hassle-free travel experience, the federation has urged the airport authorities to reconsider their stance and permit auto rickshaws to drop off departing passengers within the airport premises.