Keep loaders off Sahar airport: HC

MUMBAI: Unofficial loaders outside the international terminal of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) would have to be more watchful as a city court has entrusted Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) with the task of keeping them at bay. In an order issued by the Bombay City Civil Court, MIAL has been given the power to keep these loaders off airport limits.

On January 15, the Borivili division of Bombay City Civil Court issued an ad interim order to MIAL restraining entry of the loaders, affiliated to self-styled Viman Hamaal Ekta Sanghatna (VHES). The order stated that no licence has been granted to VHES and therefore, its members do not have right to work within the area of CSIA.
 
There are around 200 loaders operating outside the Sahar terminal. There have been complaints from passengers that loaders are responsible for theft of baggages at the airport. Under an RTI application, it was reportedly found that around 17 of the 80 loaders of the VHES had criminal records.