The Airport Authority of India (AAI) which is responsible for air traffic navigation at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport has been seeing an alarming trend over the past few years.

Most of its employees, attached with the Air Navigation System (ANS), being transferred to the Mumbai airport, would use their connections to try and stop their transfer. The reason being, Mumbai has an acute shortage of accommodations for them around the airport.

In deal with the problem, the AAI has now zeroed in on two places — one near Pawan Hans in Juhu and the other near Western Express Highway in Andheri — to build accommodations for them. Around 300 accommodations have been planned.

Regional executive director (west region) AK Sharma confirmed the development. A senior official from AAI said, “We hope that the construction will get over in a couple of years.”

The ANS consists of staffers from the Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Communication Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) divisions. While ATC remains at the forefront of monitoring and managing air traffic, CNS provides it with the infrastructure. CNS has been facing a shortage of ove 40%, while the ATC is falling short by over 50%.

The seriousness of the staff shortage issue can be gauged from the fact that at least 118 cases of airprox — two aircraft coming dangerously close to each other mid-air — have been recorded in the last five years.

Aviation industry insiders said ANS staffers all over the world are given accommodation near their workplace and given short duty hours as excess stress can turn hazardous for airplane traffic operations. However, in Mumbai, due to staff shortage, employees are working longer hours, which is against the rules.Tackling the issueThe AAI has now zeroed in on two places — one near Pawan Hans in Juhu and the other near Western Express Highway in Andheri — to build accommodations for them. Around 300 accommodations have been planned.