Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Provide Better Passenger Amenities At Thiruvananthapuram ... on 2 December, 2015
Sixteenth Loksabha an> Title:Need to provide better passenger amenities at Thiruvananthapuram international airport.
DR. A. SAMPATH (ATTINGAL): Sir, during the time of V.P. Singh Government, the Trivandrum International Airport – now it is Thiruvananthapuram – was declared as international airport. More than ten per cent of the Kerala’s total population is either working or living outside the nation.
According to the data which is available as on 31st of November this year, more than one million domestic passengers availed the services of the Thiruvananthapuram international airport. More than two million international passengers have also availed the services of this international airport.
I have been reported by various media that the developmental activities of this airport is being sabotaged. The Director of the airport at Thiruvananthapuram, even though the Airport Authority is earning a very good profit, does not have even the power to construct a toilet or even to allow a refreshment area or a canteen somewhere in the check-in area. Can you imagine an international airport where in the check-in area people will not get even a cup of tea? This is the pity of that airport. One third of the passengers are women and many of them are carrying children also. So, when we do not have sufficient number of women CISF personnel, there is a long queue. At the toll gate also, there is a long queue. So, my humble request to the Government, through you, the hon. Minister of Civil Aviation may convene a meeting of the MPs State-wise before the Budget Session like the hon. Railway Ministers usually do, so that the issues of various airports can be discussed and some of them can be rectified; and the developmental activities can be initiated. … (Interruptions) I am going to conclude.
There are casual labourers working under the Air India. There is a plan to privatise all these activities and to leave them on the streets. … (Interruptions)
HON. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: You can raise only one matter.
… (Interruptions)
HON. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: You can ask for amenities. It is all right. But the labour issue is another one.
DR. A. SAMPATH : We are all getting the votes of the labourers. We cannot throw them to the streets. They are also human beings. They also feel hungry and thirsty.
HON. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: You can raise that issue tomorrow because only one issue will go on record. We will permit tomorrow.
DR. A. SAMPATH: I am concluding. Let me land.
I have already submitted one request, that is convening the meeting with the MPs. The second request is, give ample powers to the Director of the Thiruvananthapuram international airport to give some rest area to the drivers, toilet facilities, refreshment area, etc. HON. DEPUTY-SPEAKER:
Shri P.K. Biju, Shri Md. Badaruddoza Khan, Shri Ninong Ering are allowed to associate with the matter raised by Dr. A. Sampath.