Loos raise a stink: Kolkata airport terminates agency’s contract after flyers’ complaints on social media – Times of India

KOLKATA: The airport has terminated the contract of a housekeeping agency that had been hired to clean toilets in the arrival level of the integrated terminal. Complaints about the stink and stain in airport washrooms had flooded Twitter, forcing the hand of the airport operator.
The airport has floated fresh tenders to appoint a new firm that will conduct comprehensive housekeeping training to the staff, periodic refresher courses and stringent monitoring protocol.

“The state of toilets at the airport, particularly in the arrival level, was woeful. Despite providing industrial-grade cleaning agents and stain-removers, the sanitary ware in the toilets were stained. It was clear that the staff had not worked properly for months and there had been no supervision either, both on the part of the contractor and our own officials. This will not be tolerated. The contract of Upshot Utility Services has been terminated and we are set to appoint a new housekeeping agency within a couple of months,” airport director C Pattabhi said.
The toilets in the departure area are better but still not up to the mark when compared with other metro airports. The housekeeping contract for this level is with NIS Management.
“Airports are taking huge money, status of Swachh Bharat on Kolkata airport at toilet on 20April 22 at 15.50hrs, where is corrupt money going sir,” a passenger Rajiv Goyal had tweeted sharing a soiled and yellow stained commode at the Kolkata airport.
Another passenger Indrajit Sen had tweeted tagging AAI and Kolkata Airport: “HELP!!! Please clean the toilets in departure area in Kolkata Airport. At time that was unusable, no toilet rolls… Pull up your socks and visit those in the morning, afternoon and evenings time.”
Though toilets have been a peeve-point at Kolkata airport for years and a persistent sore thumb that pulled down its score in numerous consumer satisfaction surveys, efforts to address the issue through various means including installation of Emoji feedback machines near toilets have failed. The situation worsened during the Covid when passenger footfall dropped.
“From the present state of toilets, it is clear that some housekeeping staff had stopped working. Even the supervisors did not work. I have told AAI staff that if they are found to be negligent again, it will reflect in their appraisal,” added Pattabhi. The 250-odd workers of Upshot Utility complained they had not been paid salaries for at least two months and statutory conditions like PF had also not been met. “We have asked the agency to clear all the dues else the amount will be given to the workers directly by AAI,” the director said. The company has not submitted bills for at least five months.