Suhail Bhat
Srinagar Oct 31: Passengers at the Srinagar airport grapple with a range of issues, including the absence of heating facilities, cold water, and a limited number of food outlets, leaving them disheartened and dismayed.
The situation is particularly worrisome as the Valley prepares to welcome tourists for the upcoming winter season. On Tuesday morning, passengers were seen struggling with the early morning chill at the airport, and the cold tap water exacerbated the situation, especially for tourists hailing from warmer regions.
“It is unfortunate that we promote ourselves as a top tourist destination but fail to provide even the most basic amenities for passengers,” one passenger said.
Saleem Beigh, a frequent traveller on an early morning flight to New Delhi, emphasised that the lack of heating facilities made his airport experience far from comfortable. He also noted the absence of food options at the airport.
“My flight was delayed by two hours, and I wanted breakfast, but most of the food outlets were closed, which is unacceptable. There were only three sandwich stalls with limited menu options,” he said.
Adding to the discomfort, Beigh said there was no hot water available for their basic needs. Cold tap water greeted passengers as they attempted to freshen up, leaving them shivering in the cold. “Tourists who went to freshen up in the washrooms came out shivering, as many of them were accustomed to much warmer temperatures,” a traveller pointed out.
Travellers also raised concerns about cleanliness and hygiene, as cleaning activities only commenced at 9 a.m. They said passengers had to vacate their seats to accommodate the cleaning staff, leading to further inconvenience. “Cleaning only begins at 9 a.m., and passengers have to move from their seats to make room for the cleaners,” a passenger said.
Sharad Kumar, an airport official, explained that the heating system is typically activated when the temperature drops below 15 degrees in the Valley. “We will activate the heating system tomorrow,” he said.
Regarding the issue of cold tap water, he mentioned that geysers are available at the airport, and they would investigate if they had been switched off.
In response to the lack of food outlets, the official cited a poor response to tenders as the reason for their absence. “We issued tenders for nearly 30 food outlets twice but failed to receive responses,” he said.
However, he denied the claims of cleaning delays. “Cleaning starts at around 6 a.m. to ensure passengers don’t face any inconvenience,” he said.
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