AI staff told to vacate Vasant Vihar homes

New Delhi: Close to 2,000 employees living in Air India’s staff colonies — Vasant Vihar in Delhi and Kalina in Mumbai — will have to leave their official accommodation latest by July 26, or face fines and lose their retirement benefits, at least partially. The employees are supposed to vacate the same within six months of AI divestment that’s completed earlier this year.
A special purpose vehicle, AI Assets Holding Ltd (AIAHL), which has been created to take over AI’s non-aviation assets and gradually monetise them to pay off the airline’s debt retained by the Centre, asked AI on May 18 to remind the employees about the deadline.
AI employees overstaying in the colonies will be slapped with penalties of Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh, respectively, and also charged double the market rent for the unauthorised period of stay. The penalty will be recovered from arrear and other financial benefits.
They will have their retirement/service benefits or any financial benefit accrued put on hold till they leave peacefully.