Missing signage to airport irks passengers

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 19

Omission of road signage to guide visitors to Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport irks passengers visiting the airport.

People visiting the airport have often voiced their concern over the omission.

A resident of Kapurthala, Jaskaran Singh, said he along with his family came here to catch a flight to Dubai. “After paying obeisance at the Golden Temple, we left for the airport. However, in the absence of adequate signage, we had to ask for the way from people at every intersection”.

He said it was strange that not enough road signs were installed on the roads to guide passengers to the airport. On the contrary, display advertisements are galore on the roadsides.

Among the majority of passengers alighting and boarding flights at the Amritsar airport were people from Punjab. They came from various parts of the state, including Majha and Malwa.

Amritsar airport is considered as an alternative to Delhi’s IGI Airport. In the past, many flights were diverted from Delhi to Amritsar, especially during foggy conditions. The reason is that geographically, it is the closest international airport to Delhi, strategically situated close to the Middle East and Central Asian countries and has a state-of-the-art infrastructure.

The Union Government with an investment of about Rs 150 crore had carried out development in the latter half of the last decade.

At present, there are two aerobridges in operation and the remaining two were likely to be operationalised after they were fitted with necessary equipment. These aerobridges will save passengers from the ordeal of travelling in coaches to board their planes. There would be separate aerobridges for every ready flight. Besides, it will stop mingling of passengers of different flights and beef up the security scenario.

Its terminal building is spread over 40,000 square metres. The peak-hour passenger-handling capacity at present is 1,200 people, including 600 arrivals and equal number for departure.

Amritsar Vikas Manch patron Charanjit Singh Gumtala said the Amritsar airport had got the best infrastructure. Attempts must be made to provide road signs for the convenience of the people.

Airport officials stated that that they would take up the matter of missing road signage with officials of the district administration.