24Th may 2008 saw the new airport in Bangalore. I landed to HAL airport on 22Nd night, last day of its public life and the only airport tag it had for Bangalore since its inception for public carriers. Probably Bangalore has now 4 airports in total. When I arrived I could see the chaos at the airport thou the flight landed quite on time.
We were ferried by the normal city buses to the arrival lounge. One there could see the chaos at its peak. One of the Airline personnel was surrounded by lot of people for the delay in arrival of their baggage. " We have been waiting for 2 hrs for our baggage to arrive, at least tell us if we are going to get our baggage" said one, other person wan not that kind and said " you are testing my patience" quipped another " Where is your manager call him or give me his number" by this time the airline staff had enough and had to respond and said in moderately polite manner " Sir, I cannot give his no" , this had surely infuriated the crowd " I am sure you are not the chairman of the company , and you must surely have a senior " said another. Honestly I somehow expected this kind of chaos and hence enjoyed this conversation but thought to move in form this location to check the fate of my own luggage. Luckily I have only 10 minute drive from this airport to my home and my family was any way not in station hence I had all the time in earth to enjoy the last moment of this Airport, surely a little sad inside knowing that all my luxury will just end tonight.
I got my luggage in 1 hr time only and felt like a king that my experience had been better than others.As customary I thought I will take the prepaid taxi home but that could not happen as the counter was closed , so I could not avail this luxury for the last time, hence pushed the trolley slowly out letting every moment sink in as if there was no tomorrow.
Once out there were horde of auto, taxi guys started approaching me. Once approached by a old man I asked him how much he will charge me for my destination to then he responded Rs.200. I confronted that was way too high and I could easily get somebody for the fraction of that cost. This statement of mine did bring tears to his eyes; he said that he has been a airport taxi operator for about 33 years. This was his last day and probably last trip. He said that now he is too old to carry on his operation form the new airport. Being an emotional person I agreed and did put in my luggage in his cab and started moving out of the airport.
Our conversation continued “Sir there are lot of people like me here as old as me, it was like every thing for me, all my friends were here only". Visibly he was in more control of himself but I could still see the sombre mood he had. He was truthful and said that he could fulfil all his responsibility with this job and also introduced one of his sons in the same work. He was quite worried about his son and other young drivers who had been working for past 8 years in this same profession. His grouse was Government kept our hope alive till the last moment and duped thousands of people of their lively hood.
I am surely not against any new infrastructural development but just been noting few reactions which new airport has created starting from the unemployment mentioned above for the taxi and auto drivers. There had been hundred of ground handling staff of the airport has lost their job too. There must be a lot of other petty people who would have lost their livelihood.
Another major reaction was the Airport road itself. Traffic has been quite a lot light. If fact one of these days when I was coming home via this road late night it has a scary silence. All of a sudden I could see as if the place has been taken out from the centre to a outside the city. I am sure it will have some reaction the property prices too. I am happy as for me reaching to office is quite faster now and not to mention the ease.
Since the new airport has banned the entry of the autoric. There is a tremendous shortage of the cabs from and to the airport. According to a auto driver there were about 10K auto movement in the old airport. Hence there surely will be the acute shortage of cabs at the airport. I could realize the same once we needed to call the normal city taxi for a drop to Railway station. Not one but 3 - 4 what we called all denied having any taxi available with them; while probing further they confirmed the airport bookings.I am sure the dynamics are going to settle down in due course of time for now it is surely and rapidly getting settled.
