Team of MPs visits airport to cut down on 'waiting ordeal'

"Endless wait" before boarding a flight from the Delhi airport is one drawback that the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Home Affairs wants to improve. Faizan Haider reports.

"Endless wait" before boarding a flight from the Delhi airport is one drawback that the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Home Affairs wants to improve.

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At Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), passengers have to stand in long queues at the check-in counter, security check and immigration counter. To review the facilities and security arrangements, a PSC of 20 MPs visited the airport on Wednesday.

The committee reviewed the disaster-management plan, immigration system, security arrangements besides facilities provided by the airport operator. It is likely to submit its suggestion before the Parliament soon. Stakeholders, including Delhi International Airport Limited, Central Industrial Security Force, immigration and custom, gave presentation on what they are doing to improve the situation.

"They were here to see how much time a passenger takes after entering the airport till the time he boards the plane. To make Delhi airport of international standard, a passenger should have smooth passage at every counter," said a source.

Normally, on entering the airport, a passenger has to stand in queue for check-in, security check and immigration check. The committee wants to reduce waiting time at all three counters.

"They scanned the arrangement at Terminal 3 and also visited the Airport Operation and Command Centre. Few of them have suggestion to improve the system at Delhi airport but it will be discussed in Parliament only," the source added. The MPs were also expressed concern over the controversy related to Aerocity project that has raised security issues.