People crowding before the inactive windows in Delhi Airport
On one hand, the entire management of Delhi Airport appears failed, the government looks watching as a mute spectator.
All the agencies and authorities handling the management of Delhi airport are unable to fulfill their responsibilities properly. Passengers are facing problems due to absence of staff on duty and non-deployment of proper staff in according with the capacity. But instead of taking concrete steps, the government is busy issuing advisories.
Nothing seems normal at the country’s largest airport Indira Gandhi International Airport. Due to failed airport management, passengers have to stand in long queues to enter the airport. Complaints about the plight of the immigration counter and the so-called poor working style of the staff are also coming to the fore. Surprisingly, for destinations which can be covered in four to five hours by road, passengers are being advised to reach the airport three to four hours in advance.
Increasing number of passengers
For the past several days, there have been complaints from of huge crowd of passengers at Terminal 3 of Delhi Airport. Passengers are putting the government in the dock on social media for the trouble they are facing after the management has not redressed their complaints properly. The situation has become so messed up that despite reaching the airport on time, many passengers have missed their flight.
Civil Aviation Minister reached the airport
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia himself reached the airport on Monday after continuous trouble. The government has issued a statement saying that there was a huge crowd at the Delhi airport because the staff was not present at many check-in counters. At many places the staff was not present on their seats while on duty. Due to this, the check-in process gets delayed and the crowd keeps pilling up.
IGIA is also the busiest airport
Delhi airport is the busiest airport in the country. More than 1100 flights operate here every day. T-3, one of the three terminals of this airport, is the busiest terminal. Now Delhi International Airport Limited has said in a statement that at present actions are being taken in order to reduce the number of flights here. Many flights can be shifted to T-1 and T-2 by with due suggestions of the airlines.
Who is responsible?
One of the main reasons for overcrowding at the airport is considered to be the lack of staff and poor management at the entry gate. Mandatory ID checks and ticket checks are done at the entry gate, where long lines has started forming to get inside the airport. The continuous long queues during peak hours cause chaos, due to which many passengers miss their flights also.
‘Come three and a half hours before!’
Instead of improving the arrangements, many airlines have advised passengers to reach the airport at least three and a half hours before even for domestic flights. In such a situation, for places like Jaipur, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Dehradun which can be covered by road from Delhi in three to five hours, passengers are taking six to seven hours to reach their destination.
Strict action not being taken
In such a situation, instead of taking action against the responsible officers or employees, the government is trying to save its face by giving suggestions. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia suggested that updates on waiting time should be posted on social media in real time. He said that to deal with the crowd at the airport, flights will be reduced in the ,morning peak hours and efforts will also be made to transfer some flights from Terminal 3. Peak hours are considered from 5 to 9 in the morning and from 4 to 8 in the evening.
(Subodh Jain)
