Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 14 October 2025
The Andaman Association of Tour Operators (AATO) successfully secured key relief measures for tourist vehicles at Veer Savarkar International Airport (VSI), Sri Vijaya Puram, following a meeting with the Airport Director on 13th October 2025.
A delegation led by AATO President Mr. M. Vinod, along with members Mr. Naveed, Mr. Saikat, and Mr. Abdul Rafiq, met with the Airport Director to raise concerns over the existing parking and drop-off arrangements for tourists.
The delegation highlighted several issues, including:
- Tempo Travellers and larger vehicles being denied access to the designated drop-off lane, compelling tourists to walk long distances with luggage, children, and senior citizens.
- Drivers being charged twice — once for parking and again for entry/exit.
- Vehicles dropping off passengers being charged despite not using parking facilities.
AATO requested that:
- Vehicles solely dropping off passengers should not be charged.
- Vehicles already paying for parking should not be charged again upon exit.
- Larger vehicles be allowed to use the drop-off lane for safe and convenient passenger movement.
Responding positively, the Airport Director issued immediate instructions to implement these measures. From today, Tempo Travellers and Wingers will be allowed to drop passengers from the passenger lane instead of the parking area, one vehicle at a time.
Mr. M. Vinod also urged all stakeholders to follow a single-line system to ensure smooth movement and avoid inconvenience to tourists.
Welcoming the swift action, Mr. Vinod expressed gratitude to the Airport Director for resolving the issue in the interest of tourism and passenger convenience.
