Biju Patnaik International airport authorities are gearing up to resume operations as lockdown 3.0 draws to a close.
File photo of Biju Patnaik International airport in Bhubaneswar (Picture Courtesy: Twitter @residualbitcoin)
Bhubaneswar airport in Odisha is gearing up to resume operations as the third phase of the nationwide lockdown to contain further spread of the novel coronavirus draws to a halt.
Biju Patnaik International airport (BPIA) Director VV Rao told India Today that efforts are underway to ensure that the check-in of passengers at the terminal entrance and the examination of tickets by security staff is done without any physical contact whatsoever. “The identity and the ticket of each passenger will be verified through special equipment,” added Rao.
At present, airport authorities have increased the frequency of sanitization of the terminals.
Rao also said that the airport authority is planning to install transparent glass which would allow passengers to show their documents from one side of the glass and security personnel to check the same while sitting on the other side, thereby ensuring ‘contact-less’ movement of passengers
In addition, demarcations will be made both inside and outside the airport terminal. Reorientation of chairs will also be done to retain physical distance between two directors. The use of face masks/shields and gloves will also be made mandatory for both passengers and airport staff.
However, these protocols could lead to an increase in reporting time. At the time of the halt of domestic and international air traffic in India, it was mandatory to report at the domestic check-in counter a minimum of 45 minutes before the departure of the flight. This time could now be increased owing to heightened safety guidelines to minimise the risk of transmission of the infection
