VVIP fliers go hungry at BIA

VVIP fliers go hungry at BIA
AMIT S. UPADHYE
ENGALURU


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● TERMINAL TROUBLE: STATE DEFAULTS, CATERERS SHUT PANTRY

When formerprime minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Telugu Desam chief Chandrababu Naidu checked in at the VVIP lounge at Bengaluru International Airport recently, all they received by way of refreshment was a glass of water. With the pantry closed, members of the leaders’ retinue had to rush to the coffee shop in the terminal to get them a bite to eat.
Caterers at the VVIP lounge in the international airport closed the pantry and shut shop 10 days ago after the department of public administration and reforms (DPAR) failed to clear dues of over Rs 8 lakh.

The dues have been pending since August 2008.

The catering company had entered an agreement with DPAR to serve state guests at the VVIP lounge, under which the expenses were met by BIA for the first two months.

Guests of the state government, chiefs of the armed forces and other VVIPs use the lounge as do other notables who are provided with Z-plus security. Around 40 VVIPs and 400 VIPs use the lounge every month.

The government has 24 employees working round the clock in shifts at the VVIP lounge but they now have no food to serve.

They now buy food from coffee shop in the terminal building and serve it on paper plates.

“We have written to the government and personally met DPAR officials for release of the dues, but nothing came of it. The last time we met the government officials concerned, they asked us to meet them after the elections,” said a representative of the catering company.

“We also cater at the VIP lounge in the airport where the monthly bills come to about Rs 70,000. The overheads at the VVIP lounge are Rs 1 lakh even though fewer people use it. We cannot spend any more till we are paid our dues,” the official added.

When contacted, DPAR secretary K.R. Srinivas said a meeting of the parties involved will be called shortly to resolve the issue.