Now,CISF raises IGI terminal issue: T1D has added to workload,chaos

A senior CISF official says the workload has not reduced even with additional manpower. “Our men are working extra hours after the new terminal began operation,” the official says.

According to the official,the delay in shifting operation of domestic airlines to the new terminal is also adding to the trouble. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL),the airport operator,had earlier announced that Jet Airways,JetLite and SpiceJet would shift operations from terminal T1B to T1D after April 26,in the second phase of relocation. The movement has not occurred yet.

DIAL spokesperson Arun Arora says,“The date for the second phase of shifting of operation for Jet Airways,JetLite and SpiceJet has not been decided yet.”

Senior CISF officers,though,want the airlines to move operations to the new terminal at the earliest — they argue this would give relief to the security personnel manning terminal T1B,slated to be phased out soon. “DIAL officials had told us that all airlines were to shift their operations from T1B by April-end,but we are still having to split manpower,” the CISF official says.

CISF spokesperson Rohit Katiyar says: “At present,we are providing security to T1D as well as T1B. With T1D becoming operational,all flight operations had to be shifted out from T1B but the process has been delayed.”

Terminal T1B was built in the 1940s and is unable to meet the growing rush.

Who is shifting where

Airport sources say Jet Airways is not keen on moving operations to the new terminal,as the airline will have to shift again to upcoming integrated terminal (T3) once it becomes operational early next year. “We will again be asked to shift to T3 six months from now,as T1D is slated to become a dedicated low-cost carrier terminal,” a Jet Airways official says.

* Commercial operations at T1D started on April 19 with shifting of Kingfisher,Kingfisher Red and Indigo Airlines to the new building

* GoAir made its shift from T1B to T1A on Wednesday night; it began commercial operations from T1A on Thursday

* As per DIAL’s plans,70% of all airlines will operate from terminal 1D

* Jet Airways,Jetlite,Kingfisher Red,Indigo and Spicejet will be shifted from T1B to T1D

* GoAir and Jagson are being shifted from T1B to T1A

* No change in location for Air India and MDLR — they will continue to operate from T1A

* DIAL says terminal T1D,built at a cost of Rs 500 crore,will cater more than 10 million passengers per year eventually