CIAA directs TIA to improve services

Kathmandu, January 29

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority today directed the Tribhuvan International Airport administration to improve its services to air passengers.

The recommendations and directives issued by the anti-graft body shows that the sole international airport of the country has failed to provide quality and efficient service.

CIAA told the TIA to provide water in arrival, departure and sterilised areas of the airport’s domestic terminals and make necessary arrangements for hot and cold water dispensers.

During an inspection and monitoring of the TIA area, CIAA officials found the airport bathrooms in a sorry condition. TIA authorities have been asked to keep sanitation workers standby and maintain cleanliness of bathrooms.

The anti-graft body has also suggested that retina/biometric verification and record-maintaining system of each passenger be developed at the arrival and departure points of the immigration terminal to curb criminal and terrorist activities.

The TIA has also been directed to keep the cops stationed at the airport for more than one year’s term. Though as many as 370 police personnel under the leadership of a DIGP are deployed at the airport, they have failed to control unwanted activities outside the airport, said CIAA.

The anti-graft body told TIA police to carry out body search of all pass holders, including the security personnel and increase human resources for CCTV monitoring.

The authorities have also been told to install state-of-the-art X-ray machines with storage capacity of no less than three months to scan the baggage and luggage of air passengers.

As per CIAA’s directives, TIA administration will have to set up its passenger help desk alongside that of police, limit the access to visitors’ pass, increase CCTV coverage area, and operate emergency medical service, among others.