AAI chief Guruprasad Mohapatra envisages plans for modernisation of airports

By Paras Bisht New Delhi [India], Jan.17 (ANI): The chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Guru Prasad Mohapatra, spelt out the AAI's achievements over the last year and what he plans to achieve during fiscal 2017-18 in terms of modernisation. Addressing a press conference at the AAI headquarters at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan on Monday evening, Mr. Mohapatra said, "Project DISHA (Driving Improvement in Service and Hospitality at Airports) which was launched last year to improve customer service and operations excellence has been launched at 10 AAI airports viz; Kolkata, Chennai, Lucknow, Varanasi, Bhubaneshwar, Pune, Goa, Guwahati, Coimbatore and Trivandrum". He further added that "over 4000 customer surveys and 7500 plus time machine studies have been conducted". Examples of actual on-the ground impact in Chennai and Guwahati were also shared. At Chennai, there were high queuing time initially at check-in and security, steps have been taken to add 10 additional checks in counters and clustered self check-in has been introduced to increase self check in usage. At Guwahati airport, an additional entry gate has been created to ease out the rush and queuing times at peak hour. The check-in area is also undergoing multiple modifications with the aim to decongest the area. The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN in October 2016 to facilitate/ stimulate regional air connectivity by making it affordable. The AAI has been designated as Implementing Agency and is working on revival of unserved and underserved airports to facilitate the regional connectivity scheme. Unserved airports will be operationalized at an indicative cost of 50 crores. To Rs 100 crores. Further, 51 Airports which are ready for operation with no expenditure or expenditure upto around Rs 5 crores, have been identified. Further Mohapatra added that the "AAI is in the process to leverage its cargo business to increase the Non-Aeronautical revenue and has chalked out a road map by identifying 24 Airports across the country for creation of Common User Domestic Air Cargo Terminals (CUDCT)". To give special focus on cargo, AAI has formed 100% owned subsidiary of AAI, AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Ltd. (AAICLAS) with an initial authorized capital of Rs 25 crores. The AAI has completed various key projects during the last year which have been stepping stones in its success from infrastructural development to customer service excellence in respect of airports amenities at its airports. The revenue during 2015-16 has increased at 16.58% to 10824.50 cr from 9284.98 cr (2014-15) and profit after tax (PAT) has also increased at 29.51% to 2537.36 from 1959.22 cr. (2014-15).(ANI)