Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, June 17: The waiting area outside the arrival terminal of Veer Savarkar International Airport — located between the arrival and departure zones — has increasingly become a point of discomfort and embarrassment for the Andaman tourism industry.
Frequently crowded with tour operators, cab drivers, and family members waiting to receive guests, the area continues to lack even the most basic public amenities.
Passengers and tourism stakeholders alike have raised concerns with Andaman Sheekah daily over the absence of ceiling fans in the waiting area. Given the region’s hot and humid climate, which makes waiting sometimes uncomfortable.
To make matters worse, roofing work in this section remains incomplete. As a result, the few available seats are often stained by bird droppings, making them unusable. “This is what tourists first see when they step out of the airport,” a stakeholder told Andaman Sheekha. “It’s not just a matter of comfort — it’s about the image of Andaman.”
The issue of inadequate infrastructure is not new. In July 2023, the same ceiling of the newly-inaugurated section of the airport collapsed due to cyclonic weather, just days after it was unveiled. Even today the damaged structure has still not been repaired.
In addition to the lack of fans and shaded seating, the waiting area also suffers from a complete absence of drinking water facilities and a nearby toilet block. Visitors needing restrooms are forced to walk all the way to the vehicle parking area, a significant inconvenience for the elderly and families with children.
Local stakeholders are urging the Airport Authority of India and the administration to act swiftly. “These are not big-ticket issues,” said a tourism operator. “But their impact is huge — they inconvenience people and harm the reputation of our islands.”
With Andaman positioning itself as a premier tourist destination, the state of its main airport’s public facilities must match the standards expected by travellers. Swift upgrades and basic amenities could make a significant difference in improving both comfort and the overall impression of the islands.
