Airport Authority workers to go on fast

Functioning of airports across the country may be affected on Tuesday, as Airport Authority employees will observe a day-long ''relay fast'' to protest privatisation of airports and press the government to meet other demands.

''The Airport Authority employees will en-mass observe a day-long relay fast from 10 am to 5 pm to protest efforts at privatising airports being managed by the Airport Authority of India and our other unmet demands,'' said M K Ghoshal, All India General Secretary, Airport Authority Employee's Union.

The AAEU is also protesting the development of Greenfield airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore and closure of those which are being currently run by the AAI.

''At Delhi and Mumbai, where government has privatised the airports, the employees are being asked to join the consortium against their will, which is not acceptable to us. No one can be forced to work in the consortium against their will,'' he said.

Ghoshal alleged there were several other demands of the AAI employees which had not been met despite several requests to the government since the last one-and-a-half year.

Meanwhile, Delhi International Airport (P) Limited, which manages Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, has prepared a backup plan so that operations are not affected.

''We have learnt that AAEU has informed AAI management about the mass protest tomorrow in support of their demands. We have prepared a backup plan and all efforts will be made so that airport operations don't get affected and passengers face least inconvenience,'' a DIAL spokesperson said, adding they believed it will be a peaceful protest.

News Source : Samachar