Government airports to say it with (fake) flowers soon

Airports will now have artificial flowers on their premises as a cost-cutting measure.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has 124 airports across the country. No details of the money spent on buying flowers and bouquets are available, but senior AAI officials claim switching over to artificial ones will be cost-effective.

“It is a one-time investment. Even internationally, artificial flowers and plants are preferred. In India, it is often a big headache to get fresh flowers in large quantities daily,” said an AAI official.

The AAI is looking for artificial flower suppliers for its six newly-inaugurated airports, including Ahmedabad and Dehradun. Work will start in two months and then, in a phased manner, its other airports, too, will get artificial flowers. “This will help bring down costs and add beauty to the overall landscape,” a senior AAI official said.
A source claimed that the AAI has taken a cue from private operators.

The official said: “Airport operators in Delhi, Mumbai and other places have been using artificial flowers, so why can’t this be done at AAI-owned airports?”

“Natural flowers last not more than 24 hours. It is very difficult to stock flowers and ensure only fresh ones are put up. So it is better to have artificial flowers which look similar to real ones and last longer,” the official said.

DNA had recently reported that the AAI has instructed its employees to travel by train instead of flying. Over 3,000 executive-rank officials posted across the country, who were eligible for air travel, will now have to travel by train.