“We have installed various special things for impaired persons. Starting from the main entrance, we have provided a ramp so that they can have easy access inside the terminal building. Apart from that, we have tactile strips for easy movement
— C Pattabhi, Airport Director at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata
In a move to equip airports with additional services for people with reduced mobility, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has chalked out plans to make airports barrier-free facilities.
Today, reported ANI, one can see ramps, railings, water facilities and other public utilities being brought about at airport premises for the convenience of people with reduced mobility. At Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, right from the entry point, passengers with mobility issues have been given special attention by the airport staff.
C Pattabhi, Airport Director at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, was quoted saying, “We have installed various special things for impaired persons. Starting from the main entrance, we have provided a ramp so that they can have easy access inside the terminal building. Apart from that, we have tactile strips for easy movement.”
And, at Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur, people with mobility issues can communicate with the airport staff from the parking space itself. A help desk has been installed in the space which allows people to contact the department with their needs. Travellers with disabilities will receive special attention from the airport staff at the ramp developed outside the terminal building so that they can have easy access to the building.
The AAI is planning to replicate such facilities at airports across the country
Nandita Bhatt, Airport Director at Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur, said they had taken the initiative towards an accessible India programme where passengers with reduced mobility such as fractures, pregnant women or aged people would receive facilities at the airport. She said, “If you come towards our terminal, we have developed special parking for disabled people where we have put signages for that.
We have installed a telephone outside the terminal from where one can call the help desk to access the wheelchair and other facilities needed. In this case, our team will assist the person with the same. With the help of CISF, we help them in security access so that they can reach their plane comfortably.”
Retiring room facilities are available for PRM Passengers if they have connecting flights the next day. Booking services are made available inside the airport for the services of retiring rooms.A lift facility for PRM people has also been installed inside the terminal building. Passengers have welcomed the facilities.
The airport at Goa has also been equipped with similar facilities. The authorities say they are committed to further improving the standards and making travellers’ experiences even more memorable.
The AAI is planning to replicate such facilities at airports across the country.
*************************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken the small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, to run a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will makes a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com