Imphal, March 26: Lack of concern on the part of the Kolkata Regional Centre office has caused lot of dissatisfaction among the customers who come to book tickets as well as for related inquiries at the Indian Airlines City Office located at MG Avenue here.

Over and above the deplorable service condition, lack of adequate staff to man the branch office has added to the woes of the customers.

Among the problems being faced by the customers who come to book tickets at this office, reservation of the ticket is said to be one dilemma that all the customers have been subjected to with the person manning the reservation counter and the machine being used having just one reply, 'System Fail' when information is sought for any destination.

It is learnt that the facility for the all India reservation link used by the Airlines is being provided by either BSNL or MTNL.

Though it is not known whether the system works or fails in other offices outside Imphal, it is for sure that the 'link system' remains out of order most of the time at the main branch office at Imphal, according to information received here.

In fact, when this reporter went to inspect the said office following complaints from many customers, the only reply received was 'System Fail' for two consecutive days ! 'Of course, the system works sometime' was the afterthought reply given by the person manning the counter when questioned how the office is being managed in such a manner.

Though it is purely a question of luck whether the customer is lucky enough to get the ticket or not, the tele-booking facility, the Super Saver and other schemes floated to attract the customers have not been made available from the said office since long.

Apart from the inability to issue fare certificate in time, the officer concerned could never complete verification of the concession form during working hours of the office most of the time.

On the other hand, in case of cancellation of the flight, arrangement of the accommodation facility for the stranded customers is said to be something that is never done in Imphal.

On the problem of lack of adequate staff, it is learnt that the office remain virtually deserted on Sundays and Wednesdays, the two days on which the frequency of the flight more than other normal days, as all the staff of the office are utilised at the airport.

The sources charged that the functioning of the office of the Indian Airlines office at MG Avenue has come to such a pathetic situation due to lack of concern on the part of the Regional office at Kolkata.

Leaving aside the inconveniences caused to the customers, such poor service condition would definitely result in poor sales record, the source added expressing concern.

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