Rajan Gandhi
After two months of closure, the Indian government allowed airlines to resume domestic operations at 33 per cent of passenger capacity, a limit which was later on increased to 45 per cent. After India resumed domestic flights on May 25, aviation authorities assured the public that measures were put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as they claim all protocols have been put in place to protect passengers from COVID-19. However, as the virus has been spreading rapidly across India in recent weeks, there is growing concern that lax enforcement of safety measures at airports is contributing to the spread of COVID-19 via the country’s air routes. A visit to airport reveals the truth as passengers waiting for flights are not adhering to the physical distancing at all and no airport officials are there to enforce the rules. Two main airports of Delhi and Mumbai have been handed over to private player GMR and the resultant mess is for everyone to see. Cost cutting, least bothered about safety of passengers is the new undeclared norm and Government too seems to be in hibernation mode, getting money from private operator is the main objective. Main problem with aviation sector is frequent delays or cancellation of connecting flights with the result passengers are getting stranded at airport itself even at night and so precarious is the situation at T3 International Terminal of Delhi airport that people can be seen sleeping on floor, a scene most often seen on railway platforms.No one seems to be bothered as no effort is visible at any airport to deploy more personnel in place to enforce “effective social distancing. At the baggage screening section people get huddled close together, as officials rushto screen bags. The security checkpoint is also understaffed with two to three personnel at each, insufficient for the large crowd, with people standing close together rushing to get through.As clearance takes longer during the pandemic, it increases the queue, leading to a rush at the security gate. At the boarding gate, people rush to board the flight, ignoring pleas from airline personnel to maintain social distancing. The whole scene makes one feel that no one knows anything about COVID 19 especially safety measures.
Airlines have tried to take precautions, such as reducing customer touchpoints, mandatory online check-in, and synthetic leather seats. But photos of packed planes circulated on social media and reports of travellers testing positive for COVID-19 have made things really serious. According to some recent studies, the virus can be airborne because of droplets in a closed space. The airport is a huge space, so one can easily move away from someone if they are close to you. In a small area like a plane, the air suspension of the virus increases and so does the risk of getting infected. Some airlines are keeping middle seats vacant to increase the distance between two passengers while some other are providing protective gowns to passengers. There is no hard and fast rule and various airlines are left on their own to follow their own individual procedures.
Jammu Airport is no exception as a visit to airport makes one sure that no one is in control of anything. At the outside airport entry itself is chaotic is visible as with very limited space passengers can be seen hustling bustling at counters to get the information without keeping any social distance. Some are even without masks. CISF has been assigned the duty of safeguarding Jammu Airport and they seem to be only professional unit working efficiently and smartly to ensure no violation of rules and regulations, brisk contactless frisking and contactless I-card/valid ticket checking through camera maintain sufficient distance. They clearly know their assigned job. Entry into departure area seems to be somewhat organised as there is no medical checking and various airline persons make sure that the whole process is hassle free. While arrival section seems to be in total chaos especially as and when two flights land with very little time in between. Usually afternoon flights are packed and with everyone to be COVID 19 tested all seem to be in a hurry to get tested in the process least social distancing, some arguing with officials as they have come pretested at their respective places but officials refusing to entertain their reports. Different officials from different departments can be seen but nobody seems to be in command. Nodal officer along with other persons are seated packed at enquiry counter with no social distancing and on other hand staff in PPE kits taking swabs seems to be only one bothered about COVID 19. There is another set of health officials who are basically technicians but pose themselves as Doctors and in charge of this whole process. Some of these so called in charge remain absent from airport duty with the result only skeleton staff remains to discharge the duty. Once the swab is taken passengers are stamped and then rush to take their luggage and after that no clue of what to do next. Lots of arguments and counter arguments can be witnessed at the exit point and ultimately passenger gets out of arrival area and the real torment now starts.
While VIPs are escorted by JKP Officers on duty, others are huddled in waiting area where few dust ridden, unsanitized steel bench chairs are waiting for passengers, totally insufficient to cater to all passengers. There is no fan in this open area and with gowns, gloves,masks and shields on one can imagine the plight of passengers in present sultry heat. Passengers are required to collect their passes according to home quarantine, pre booked hotel at Jammu, Government quarantine facilities or paid hotel facility at Katra. It’s at the discretion of Nodal Officer at airport to decide where all can go for quarantine in addition to those who are entitled as per rules. Lots of arguments as pretested reports are rejected, pre booked hotel accommodations are also challenged on one pretext or other. One fails to understand the logic behind the decision of administration to send all by incoming air travellers to Katra for paid quarantine without considering any positive patient with comorbidities can require ventilator or other critical medical emergency which is not at all available at Katra.
All passengers are made to wait in herds at waiting area till they get boarding slips and then made to travel in buses for hours together to reach Katra instead of dispersing them off in shortest interval of time so that there is least possibility of contact infection from any suspected passenger. Are they promoting tourism at Katra or what is the logic only administration knows? Even pre booked hotel passengers are made to wait till the unsanitized temposare called from outside and are then despatched to respective hotels. One can never imagine the plight of a passenger who had spent more than 24 hours at different airports to reach his destination and is than are made to wait for hours. Ordeal doesn’t end here only as then the never ending wait for test report starts which may take more than 48 hours as such passengers are made to pay two and a half day hotel bill which may be around ten thousand per person.
More disturbing is fact that no water, no dustbins for disposal of waste like used masks and protective coverings at outside waiting area available, not even toilet facility. Condition of assisting staff is more pitiable as they are made to sit under prefabricated airport extension shed and one gets a feeling of sitting in an oven. Any thunder storm or heavy rains, these staff members along with police personnel deployed will be running for shelter along with waiting passengers.Despite tall claims the whole arrangement is too shabby with no coordination, no planning, least safety measures and a visit at such a place can make one understand how COVID 19 is so rapidly spreading in Jammu. One fails to understand how local civil and health officials can be so casual about this pandemic situation. It’s time for Divisional Commissioner, DC Jammu, DHS and CMO to act and take corrective measures in consultation with airport authorities. Passengers are humans, don’t treat them like cattle to be herded and dispatched like this.
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