Caught in the act, T2 tout gets marching orders

A day after mid-day exposed how some airport and airline staff are hiding trolleys and demanding as much as $20 (Rs 1,200) from passengers just to help them get to the exit or to their vehicles, Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) took notice and demanded action.

Also read: Caught on Camera - Touts at Mumbai airport demand USD 20 for a trolley

Kailash Kamble, who works in T2 as a ground handler, was caught on camera by a mid-day reporter

One such tout, caught on camera by a mid-day reporter, has been identified as Kailash Kamble, who works in T2 as a ground handler. MIAL wrote to the agency which employs Kamble, and instructed that he must be sacked immediately.

"We completely deplore this behavior and have demanded immediate and stringent action against the staff member of the agency concerned. We would like to reiterate that passengers should alert the nearest CISF personnel or the airport manager in case any loader or staff approaches them with unsolicited demands at arrivals," said a MIAL spokesperson. MIAL sources confirmed later in the evening that Kamble had been fired from his job.

Beware
An airport official said, "Touting is a 40-year-old problem in Mumbai's airports. Even if we change contractors, the ground handlers often remain the same. Hence, we have put up notices at various places in T2 and the domestic airport, asking passengers to be wary of touts and to alert authorities." He added that ground handlers and loaders move through the terminals and it is easy for them to engage in such activities.