Chennai,, Sept 9:
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will install 36 sanitary napkin vending machines in women’s restrooms at Chennai International Airport by the end of September, following concerns over the temporary discontinuation of the facility.
The machines are expected to become operational from October 1, ensuring women passengers have access to sanitary napkins during emergencies.
The decision follows concerns raised after television actor Latha Rao recently shared her experience of unexpectedly getting her period while waiting at the airport and being unable to obtain a sanitary napkin immediately. She said the vending machines that had earlier been available in women’s restrooms were not functioning.
Rao said she had to rush from Gate 1 to a pharmacy near Gate 7 to purchase a sanitary napkin. The delay caused considerable anxiety as boarding had already begun by the time she returned to her gate. She also used the incident to highlight the importance of openly discussing menstruation and menstrual hygiene.
Airport authorities said the vending machines had previously been operational but were temporarily discontinued following complaints of misuse. As an interim measure, women passengers can contact a number displayed inside the restrooms, following which a woman airport employee will provide a sanitary napkin, officials said.
The new arrangement will cover women’s restrooms across the airport. An AAI tender also specifies 36 vending machines, each with a minimum capacity of 25 sanitary napkins, indicating a planned system-wide facility rather than isolated installations.
The issue is not new. In October 2025, passengers had complained that sanitary napkin vending machines at Chennai airport frequently displayed “no stock” messages, leaving women without access to essential menstrual hygiene products, particularly after security checks. Airport officials had then said the machines were being periodically restocked.
With the new machines scheduled to be installed by September-end, airport authorities are expected to ensure regular stocking and maintenance so that women passengers can access sanitary products without having to leave secure areas or seek assistance during emergencies.This can also be sharpened into a stronger Chennai civic/airport accountability story with the earlier complaints and actor’s experience pushed into the lead.