AAI envisages plans for modernisation of airports

New Delhi [India], Jan. 17(ANI): The Airports Authority of India(AAI) on Monday spelled out the achievements in last year and what it plans to achieve this fiscal at a briefing. "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," AAI chief Guruprasad Mohapatra said. He further said 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. Ministry of Civil Aviation launched Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN in October 2016 to facilitate/ stimulate regional air connectivity by making it affordable. 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 operationalised at an indicative cost of Rs. 50 crores to Rs. 100 crores. Further, 51 airports which, are ready for operation with no expenditure or expenditure up to Rs. 5 crores, have been identified. Further Mohapatra said 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 percent owned subsidiary of AAI, AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Ltd. (AAICLAS) with an initial authorised capital of Rs. 25 crores. 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 percent to 10824.50 crores from 9284.98 crores (2014-15) and profit after tax (PAT) has also increased at 29.51 percent to 2537.36 from 1959.22 cr. (2014-15).(ANI)