CHENNAI: Officials from various agencies are working together to introduce flight check-in facility at the metro station, officials told Express. This facility is now available at the Delhi Metro, the first such in the country.
Speaking to Express, Chennai airport director Deepak Shastri noted that this would require multi-agency coordination. Discussions are going on in this regard, he said, adding that the facility should be available in a year.
Currently, Delhi Metro allows passengers flying on international and domestic routes to book tickets, get flight information and check-in luggage.
Among the facilities to be made available in the near future is a walkalator — a moving walkway — that would be installed between the airport and the metro station, said Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu.
The Airports Authority of India is working on the project, which will be implemented soon, Naidu added. When contacted, airport director Deepak Shastri said the walkalator would be operational in the next 8 to 10 months.
“The project was initially proposed to be taken up during the second phase of modernisation of Chennai Airport. Now we are taking it up as a separate project and have all clearances,” said Shastri. However, he added that the walkalator was not meant for heavy luggage including baggage on trolleys. Fliers who have only hand luggage can use the walkalator, he added.
“We have also requested Chennai Metro to provide two escalators to ferry the passengers out,” Shastri said.