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VIPs Fret Over GMR Norms
Posted by Pradeep Sadanapalli | April 15, 2008 | 376 views
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Loading ...Ministers, MPs and VIPs are having a galling experience at the new international airport. Airport and security officials are unable to recognise them. At the Begumpet airport, the VIPs would send their personal assistants, authorised by the Airports Authority of India, to collect boarding passes on their behalf. Officials used to accommodate VIPs even at the eleventh hour.
Things are different at Shamshabad. “There is no respect for us if we go alone. Recognition comes only when we go with fanfare,” said Mr Dadi Veerabhadra Rao, opposition leader in the AP Legislative council.
As per protocol, Mr Rao should be extended facilities on par with a cabinet minister. “GMR authorities don’t consider us VIPs if we go without gunmen,” he said.
“We have never seen proto col officers either from the government or the GHIAL at the airport.” The housing minister, Mr Botsa Satyanarayana, criticised airport officials for not providing passes even though he had asked for them. “Protocol is extended only to popular and familiar personalities,” he said.
The Rajya Sabha member, Mr V. Hanumantha Rao, said GMR had not issued passes to his assistant. GMR officials said that they had created a special corporate relations wing for VIP protocol.
“Executives are trained to provide all facilities to VIPs as per norms,” a GHIAL spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited said on Monday that it would collect Rs 1000 or $25 from passengers leaving for international destinations from 0001 hours of April 23.
The charges will be collected by airlines and travel agents. In case the tickets were booked earlier, the user development fee will be collected at the airport. “We have got approval from the Union ministry of civil aviation to collect user development fee,” GHIAL said in a press release on Monday.
SOURCES:
Deccan Chronicle
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