​Amid reports of chaos and overcrowding, ​Civil Aviation Minister may pay surprise visit to Delhi airport T3 terminal

For weeks, passengers have been complaining about how departure from the T3 Airport is a tedious process with multiple queues for security check, Indian Express reported.

​​Smaller space, fewer counters, a higher number of passengers are said to be the cause of the long queues at the immigration and security checks.

The traffic outside the terminal is also causing trouble, according to the report.

​​The disorder and confusion haven’t ceased even after the authorities reduced the number of flights from the terminal—from 22 flights per hour (pre-Covid) to 19 flights per hour (November 2022).

​​Passengers have reported a wait of at least two to three hours at the clearance area.

According to reports, some airlines have also asked their passengers to arrive at least 3 hours before departure.

Meanwhile, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) on Saturday said it was working to handle the demand at T3.

​​“We, along with stakeholders such as CISF and Immigration, are working constantly to cope with the demand which includes deployment of additional systems and manpower. We have deployed additional manpower to guide passengers, especially at key choke points, and shifted one additional X-Ray machine. Additional manpower requirements will also have to be addressed by all stakeholders, including CISF and Immigration, to further improve the situation,” it said.

T3 is the busiest terminal of the Delhi airport with over 500 domestic and 250 international flights taking off from the point.

Following the complaints, Scindia held a meeting on Wednesday with the Delhi airport management, GVK-led Mumbai airport management, GMR-operation Hyderabad airport, Bengaluru airport management, immigration officials, Inspector General, CISF Arun Kumar and Delhi Airport Immigration head.

​​"Held a detailed discussion with heads of all major Indian airports, CISF and Immigration officials on capacities deployed & those required at every point to process domestic & international passengers smoothly through the peak travel season,” he wrote in a tweet after the meeting.

The following initiatives were outlined-

1. Plans for peak-hour capacity based on passenger processing capacity at each major airport.

2. Landing cards to be distributed on board & filled up prior to arrival, so as to minimise queues at immigration counters.

3. X-ray capacity for baggage to be assessed

4. Capacity augmentation of security manpower and hand baggage screening

5. Longer-term technology-related upgrades for security & baggage drop off processing