Airport employees strike continues

Hyderabad, Mar 13 (UNI) The strike by employees of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), against the proposed closure of airports here and at Bangalore after the opening of Greenfield airports, continued for the second day today.

AAI Director R K Singla told UNI that the strike, however, had not affected flight operations at the Begumpet airport today.

He said manpower was requisitioned from outside to handle the fire services, the only wing that was affected directly in view of the strike by the fire service personnel.

He said of the 425 airport staff, 250, including permanent and casual labourers, participated in the strike.

The flights had been arriving and taking off as scheduled, he added.

Nearly 40 personnel of the Indian Air Force and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) were deployed at the Begumpet airport to meet the manpower shortage.

The ministry of Civil Aviation has already issued a notification, confirming the closure of commercial operations at Begumpet Airport and commencement of operations at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad from March 16.

The employees would intensify the agitation and bring the issue to the notice of AICC President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who is scheduled to inaugurate the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here tomorrow.

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