Forced to be fit: Around 100 workers pedal their way to city airport daily

With no public transport facility available, contract laborers (both men and women) of the Chennai airport are now riding their bicycles to work every day. The workers claimed that they are very active and fit now. The contract labours in the housekeeping department of the airport mostly come from Tambaram, Chromepet, Pallavaram, Pammal, Pazavanthangal and its surrounding areas. Since most of them did not even have a two-wheeler licence, a bicycle was the only option. Most of the staff claimed that they did not invest money on buying a cycle as they already have the cycle provided by the government. “Travelling on cycle makes us physically fit and active. Since the roads have less traffic, we have no fear of travelling on a cycle and even the police would not stop and question us when using it,” said Suresh, contract labour. He claimed that it has been a new experience pedalling to work for about 8 km.

Several staff members claimed that cycling has become a great exercise for them and they have started to burn the unwanted fat in their body. Sources said before the lockdown, not even a single staff would come to the airport on a cycle and now nearly 100 of the 400 workers are using the only cycle.