‘Janta curfew’ keeps many flyers stranded at Patna airport

PATNA: Flyers had a harrowing time at Patna airport on Sunday as there was no public transport available owing to ‘janata curfew’.
Ravi Kumar, who returned to Patna from Delhi, complained that there was no bus at Patna airport till 1pm. “I had to call one of my friends to city airport after I waited there for nearly two hours. I would go to my native place Ara after the ban on public transport is lifted,” he said.
Arun Kumar, a native of Sitamarhi said he was unable to reach Patna airport for his flight to Kolkata and had to cancel his ticket.“The airline deducted huge amount of fare and refunded only Rs1,500,” he said.
Many angry passengers were complaining about the cancellation of GoAir flights on Sunday and poor health check-up at city airport.
Jawed Khan, who works in Delhi metro and hails from Hajipur and was to board the GoAir flight for Patna, tweeted: “Cancelled the flight suddenly and now not responding to calls and emails. Please don’t create panic in this situation and inform us. Please connect to the customer care at least (sic).”
Anuragg Verma complained about poor health check-up being done at Patna airport. “There is no screening at Patna airport. There is a small desk near the entry gate where people are stopped purely on suspicion. Doctors sitting there are gossiping among themselves (sic),” he tweeted.
Patna airport director Bhupesh CH Negi, however, claimed that the thermal screening and other necessary check-ups of passengers were being done by the medical team provided by the state government.
Meanwhile, the autorickshaws in the state would remain off the road on March 23 as well in view of Covid-19 spread.
Bihar State Auto Chalak Sangh’s general secretary Raj Kumar Jha said autorickshaws remained off the road in the state on Sunday and the situation would remain the same on Monday as well. “After the meeting on Monday, we would further decide whether to suspended the services till March 31 or not,” he told this newspaper.