Well, Gujarat was the first state in the country to have an exclusive NRG board and portfolio in the ministry.
If Gujarat has the highest number of NRGs, if we are so keen to ensure that our NRGs come back to their roots every year, if we have a government, which is NRG friendly and wants to involve and engage the Diaspora, doesn't Ahmedabad deserve a decent international airport?
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel international Airport in Ahmedabad is perhaps worse than the Kalupur railway or the Geetamandir bus station. The Ahmedabad international airport is a blot on Gujarat's, Gaurav and literally shakes up the tall claims of a Vibrant Gujarat. It demystifies all expectations about what an international airport should be like.
No, the building is not dilapidated or congested. It is a new building. But because of a defunct system, there is total chaos, a total failure of law and order, a complete absence of civic sense and complete callousness on part of the authorities.
On an average night when there is an Air India flight, there are at least 1,200 to 1,400 people outside the airport fighting for space, for a decent entry and for their right to safeguard their luggage.
Imagine 1,400 people, all waiting for minimum four hours. Why does the airport authorities make people wait outside for hours and hours together? Some say that the passengers are paranoid and come in early and hence the queue. No, the reason is simple. The airport authorities don't allow people to enter early enough. Hence, unmanageable queues and chaos. Note that there is only one dustbin. By 2 am, the area outside Ahmedabad International Airport, rather the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Antar Rashtriya Hawaii Adda begins to resemble a garbage can.
Interestingly, out of the 1,400 odd people waiting outside the airport on a chilly February night, there wasn't a single phirangi. Quite exceptional isn't it? But as an AAI official informed, the reputation of Ahmedabad airport is now spreading around. No sensible person or a frequent Amdavadi passenger wants to use Ahmedabad as a transit point. They do not mind flying to Mumbai or Delhi but the Ahmedabad experience is quite ghastly and they would want to avoid it.
There are souls who try it for the first time but the sight of men nonchalantly urinating next to you, trolleys that refuse to budge, porters that literally blackmail, officials who could get awards for being the most uncooperative staff puts off most of the people. The situation is such that it induces stress.
The trauma does not end once you enter the terminal. There is just one X ray machine. It takes abnormally long for the luggage screening.
Heathrow in London is the busiest airport in the world with one international flight taking off every minute. The Ohare airport in Chicago is the busiest airport in the US but you don't see and moreover feel the rush that you feel at the Ahmedabad airport. All this just because there are no proper arrangements.
MPs who get crores of rupees as funds need to donate something so that there are benches for people to sit. Maybe some can even donate for a few garbage bins. And some can donate for better trolleys.
Moreover, the airport Authorities need to instill some confidence among the passengers. If there is faith that we are not going to miss our flights and our tickets will not be given to others, even passengers would behave in a more disciplined manner. And yes, maybe the airport authorities should make it compulsory that every person who has more than two visitors coming to see her off need to pay Rs 50 each. The airport would be able to gather revenue in crores if they do this. No, this is not for a visitor entry. This is for the area outside the airport.
We Gujaratis take pride in our hospitality but a visit to this airport makes our pride plummet to new lows. We want foreign investment, we want foreign collaborations, we want our sisters to come to us every year from New York and California. Nothing will happen if the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel international airport in Ahmedabad continues to be an adda of indiscipline and chaos.
Well, since our MPs have not been doing much in this regard and our state government is too quiet, we may expect Praful Patel, the Union aviation minister, to intervene. But is this too much of a "local" issue for the national leader Praful Patel, who incidentally happens to be a Gujarati. Vibrant Gujarat yes, but first a decent International airport please.
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