Hullabaloo at the airport

A big board displays the words "Welcome to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport". But to anybody, who dares to take an early morning domestic flight from the Kolkata airport, it ought to read as "Welcome to Hell".

One of the major airports in the country, the Kolkata airport sees around 25,000 footfalls everyday in the domestic terminal and aims to increase its capacity further. However, an effort to catch an early morning flight from this state-run set up is sure to shatter all your peace of mind.

Despite reporting at 5.15 am for a flight scheduled to depart at 7 am, what I experienced at the airport was shocking. The bottleneck at the entrance is the subtle hint of what is in store for you inside.
An effort to catch an early morning flight from the Kolkata domestic airport is sure to shatter all your peace of mind

The long queue of cars and cabs with impatient passengers getting down in the middle of the road and dragging their luggage with no trolleys and police around is a mess. If by chance you ignore the blaring horns and manage to get down with your heavy suitcases, there is hardly any relief. Even if you are old and fall flat on the ground with your luggage, the innumerable muffler-clad so-called Bengali Bhadraloks will not budge an inch to help you.

While struggling with the luggage, you may chance upon a good Samaritan offering a trolley. However, the moment you heap your luggage on it, you will be asked to pay Rs 30. But trouble does not end if you somehow ignore all this and make your way to the check-in counter. While at a queue, there will suddenly be 10 unknown faces jostling their way and demanding that they were always there before you. Nobody would imagine that these fliers have just woken up and come here all fresh once they see how people argue.

By the time you reach the security check after an hour's wait and argument, all you need is to somehow make your way to the aircraft as it is already time for departure. With less staff and more people, security check is a time consuming affair.

Once done, you will meet a hassled officer, who would request you to run quickly as the flight may leave any moment. Huffing and panting, by the time you slump on your seat, all your energy is lost and all your night's rest is exhausted.

My morning experience at Kolkata airport was nerve wracking. I was quite convinced that I would miss the flight. Watching the people and airport officials walking, talking and working at a snail's pace made me realise why Rabindranath Tagore called us Bengalis "comfort loving."

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