VASCO: Carelessness, lack of foresight or greed for additional revenue has led to the ‘shielded visibility’ of the flight information display system (FIDS) at Dabolim International airport by the Airport Authority of India (AAI), depriving airport users the facility.
The AAI decision by officials to allot a snacks counter just next to the arrival gate-2, in front of the FIDS has made the FID ‘invisible’ for the airport users.
FIDS, a computer system used at airports to display flight arrivals and departure information in real time, is vital for those flying out or arriving into the State.
In fact, to facilitate easy access of information, four FIDS were installed at all the four gates, including arrivals and departure gates of the airport by AAI.
However, this issue is not new, as the AAI officials were informed about it on earlier occasions.
According to specific information, the issue was raised on two earlier occasions in the past during the Airport Advisory committee meeting by the officials from Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG).
Unfortunately, despite concrete assurance, AAI has failed either to shift the FIDS to a visible location or move the food counter.
“Five months ago we had first raised this issue of invisible FIDS at Arrival-2 gate, which is being used frequently, requested the AAI to shift FIDS to some other location so that the same can be visible and people can avail the facility,” TTAG President Savio Messias emphasised.
Even two months ago we raised this issue again during the Airport Advisory committee meeting, but till date no action has been taken by AAI in this regard, he said.
The TTAG President also alleged that the AAI was more interested in commercial aspects of the airport premises and less on passenger amenities.
