Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport was recently crowned the best airport in the world in its category but in the last fortnight, huge delays and serpentine queues at its immigration counters has earned it the ire of passengers.
Both the immigration and emigration counters at the airport are ruled by chaos with thousands of hassled passengers waiting in seemingly never ending queues for close to an hour.
"Most of the counters are unmanned and when your turn finally comes, the immigration officials ask inane questions and work too slowly. What is the point of asking so many questions to passengers like me who are frequent flyers?" said Ashok Taneja, a businessman.
"There are about 47 counters at the departure hall and 45 at the arrival area. However, even during peak hours you wouldn't find more than 21 to 24 immigration officials at each of these areas," said a senior official of an international airline who didn't wish to be identified.
"Not only are the passengers being hassled, this also results in delayed flights some times. If this is the condition now, imagine what would happen during the peak tourist season around Christmas," he said.
"The first thought that came to my mind was a subzi mandi seeing the lines snaking to the immigration counters. It took me more than an hour to clear immigration," said Dinesh Bareja, who works for a data security organisation.
"You dare not leave the line to take a toilet break for fear of having to start all over again." Mr. Bareja said.
"The last straw is the amount of time these immigration officers take to scrutinise your documents, it is like they are trying to find some fault in you!" he said.
"We have not received any complaint regarding delays at immigration counters at IGIAt. There could be rush due to Diwali and festive season," said a senior official at Delhi's Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) who refused to be identified. "In fact, thanks to e-visas and other initiatives, there is a lot of ease at the airport now," he claimed.
Most of the immigration and emigration counters are unmanned
