IMS group addresses the safety concerns at TIA new Arrival Hall

KATHMANDU: The IMS Group Management would like to address the recent incident involving the travelator at the airport arrival hall managed by IMS Airport Services Pvt. Ltd.

First and foremost, we assure the general public that all travelers’ safety is our top priority.

While designing the new arrival hall, we focused on providing premium service to incoming Nepali citizens and international passengers, as well as improved facilities and more parking space.

The travelator was constructed in the second phase to alleviate traffic congestion near the elevator.

This project was a government tender under the Build, Operate, Own, Transfer (BOOT) model to manage the congested airport arrival parking issue and also improve the overall arrival process after customs area, for 30 years lease, fully funded by IMS Airport Services in partnership with Rasuwa construction, one of Nepal’s largest construction companies with many years of experience.

The trolleys were not included in the Terms of Reference (TOR), but IMS Airport Services purchased new trolleys for the new arrival area that have a wheel locking system and can be used safely in the travelator.

However, the old TIA trolleys do not have a wheel-locking system and are still used in the departure area.

Despite our efforts to keep the arrival and departure trolleys separate, the old incompatible trolleys make their way to the new arrival area and become mixed up with the new trolleys. The old trolleys are not suitable for the travelator because the slope makes it difficult to control the trolley, especially with multiple heavy luggage.

In light of this issue, IMS Airport Services has taken immediate action to ensure the safety of our guests.

1. A bigger elevator with over 10 people capacity will be added to the area at the earliest which will reduce the overall congestion at the arrival hall.
2. A guard has been placed full time in front of the travelator to guide incoming guests with trolleys and carrying over two suitcases to use the lifts instead of the travelator.
3. Signboards have been placed in front of the travelator highlighting the dos and don’ts.
4. Overall trolleys are regularly being maintained and repaired.
5. Incoming guests with up to two suitcases can still use the travelator safely without the trolleys. They will still have an option to get the trolleys at the end of the travelator to take it outside till the parking area. Until further notice, we would like to notify all incoming passengers that the use of trolleys have been strictly prohibited in the travelator.