Srinagar International Airport – File Pic
Touch Free Arrangements To Be Made In View Of Covid-19
Srinagar: The Srinagar International Airport is ready to resume upto 40 percent touch free flight operations after receiving a nod from the government of India, a senior official said Thursday.
“As far as Srinagar Airport is concerned, we are ready to resume the operations. Social distancing marking has been completed between 50-60 percent. And by Sunday, rest of the work will be completed. Touch free operations will be started. From entry in the terminal till boarding, the passenger will not come into physical touch with anyone,” Director Srinagar International Airport, Santosh Dhoke told Kashmir Observer.
The airport officials, he said were constantly following the guidelines issued by the Ministry of civil aviation and the MHA. According to these guidelines, Dhoke said, 30-40 percent flight operations might be resumed initially, subject to the directives of the government of India.
“Web cameras have been installed where tickets and boarding passes will be produced. And the CISF personnel behind the shelter will check the authenticity of the tickets/ passes before allowing the fliers to proceed,” Director Srinagar International Airport said.
He said that the airport administration had a meeting with representatives of all private airline companies, CISF, CRPF, police, health department and the divisional administration in which SOPs and guidelines issued from time to time were discussed at length.
“On the basis of it, we have framed an SOP for here (Srinagar Airport) and same has been shared with the stake holders so that when the flight operations resume, the SOP is followed in letter and spirit by all,” he said.
When asked about the arrangement of Covid-19 screening made by the airport authorities, Dhoke said that the first screening of the passengers will be conducted by the health department officials at the drop gate number 1.
“At drop gate, we are exploring the possibility of setting up a tunnel, where doctors in full PPE will check the passengers. Passenger’s temperature and Aragya Setu will be checked there. And in case, the passenger shows high temperature or a sign of positivity, he will be sent back.
As many as 23 flights of different airline companies operated daily from Srinagar International Airport before the government of India imposed nation-wide lockdown to combat coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, a sales officer of a private airliner told Kashmir Observer that booking of tickets for various domestic sectors have been started for June 1 onwards. He said it was likely that flight operations might resume by June 2.
“Our engineering team examined our facility at the Srinagar international airport. Other airliners are also bracing up,” he added.
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