Amidst complaints of over-crowding, missed flights and brawls at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday made a visit to the airport following which additional measures were announced for better management of passenger experience.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation sources, Delhi International Airport Limited which operates the IGI airport will have to provide digital display boards at entry gates at Terminal 3 which will provide passengers information about expected waiting time so that they can enter through a gate where a shorter waiting period is involved. This information will also have to be provided on social media, which could help passengers to decide which gate to enter through before they arrive at the airport.
The airport’s command centre will monitor crowding at the gate in real time, and this information will be supplied to airlines so that they can ensure that required number of check-in counters are adequately staffed.
Additional tray retrieval system at the pre-embarkation security check area are also being deployed, which will take their total number from 14 to 17, and subsequently up to 20 in the next two weeks.
According to Ministry sources, an analysis of manpower requirements at immigration counters will also be undertaken immediately.
Mr. Scindia had called a meeting with all airports last week on the issue, following which specific measures were announced for Terminal 3 at Delhi airport. This included deployment of ushers at the entry gate, opening of two new entry gates, traffic marshals at the forecourt area and additional x-ray machines and manpower at the security check area. The airport will also talk to airlines to reduce the number of flights during peak hours.
