The Delhi International Airport Pvt Ltd (DIAL) will soon start removing the gigantic mustard yellow carpet spanning T3 which many of the flyers have disliked since the terminal opened eight years back. The reason: Pulling bags on it is difficult with wheels getting stuck in the rug that extends from beyond the retail area to aerobridges in both the domestic and international piers of T3. Come winter and this stretch will sport a hard flooring.
DIAL's decision came on Thursday after a passenger, Suyash Gupta, tweeted on August 18, tagging junior minister of civil aviation Jayant Sinha: "Most good, busy airports use hard flooring... Easy for passengers, easy for luggage, easy to clean and maintain. Almost all (T3) passengers want the dirty rugs to go. "
The flyer, Suyash Gupta, fuether tweeted, "T3 needs urgent upgradation, makeover. More intuitive signages and #FreeFromRUGs PLEASE!!" It is very inconvenient and now stinkingly (sic) smelly also, to walk to the boarding gates."
Sinha asked DIAL to "follow up". And on Thursday, the airport operator, in a tweet to the minister and Gupta, said, "Hi Suyash, thank you for the feedback. We have initiated the design and implementation process for the replacement of carpet with hard flooring in the passenger movement area along the piers in a phased manner."
A DIAL spokesperson said: "We have proactively initiated the process of replacing the existing carpet with hard flooring in the passenger movement area along the piers, in a phased manner. We have chosen a solution which is designed for heavy passenger loads, as observed in airports. Post completion, this will enhance the overall passenger experience, especially while dragging strollers in between the travellators. This work is likely to start before the end of October."
The carpet was supplied and installed by leading British carpet maker Brintons. A July 2010 press release of Brintons issued after the carpet was installed, said: "This is a product that will stand the test of time and illustrates Delhi's rich historical past and its vibrant and modern present. The reaction to the carpet has been superb.. and the quality and feeling underfoot of our carpet will match its appearance."
But the user reaction was different, despite many liking its striking patterns. The flooring at T3's check-in, security check, immigration and retail areas is not carpeted. So after wheeling bags till there, passengers suddenly felt wheels of their bags sink in the carpet after which pushing to their aerobridge used to take quite an effort. Hopefully, now this struggle will end by winter.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/2MxqZUC
