New Delhi: As a measure to reduce the waiting time at the Delhi airport, union minister of civil aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday announced an increase in the number of entry gates. There will now be 16 entry gates at the airport, two more than the existing 14.
The civil aviation minister added that a board should be placed at every entry gate to display the waiting time before entry.
“Today we've increased the number of entry gates from 14 to 16. There was a meeting with officials inside the airport where we've decided that a board should be placed at every entry gate to display the waiting time before entry,” ANI quoted the minister as saying.
Scindia added that the step would help people reach the gate where there is minimum waiting time.
Informing further about the decisions taken in the meeting, he said that the number of total lines at the Delhi airport has also been increased to 16 from 13. He added that the ministry is trying to take the number to 20.
“Another important decision taken today was regarding the security process. A total of 13 lines are in use presently at Delhi airport which we have increased to 16. We are also trying to add a few more lines taking it close to 20 lines,” Scindia said.
The announcement came after passengers complained of long waiting hours at the airport on social media and shared pictures of the crowd. The minister also made a surprise visit to Terminal 3 earlier in the day.
Scindia, along with senior ministry officials, visited Terminal 3 of the airport amid complaints from passengers about long queues and waiting hours.
The Minister held discussions with all stakeholders on ways to address the congestion woes at the airport, news agency PTI reported.
The minister inspected in the morning the arrangements made to address the congestion, and key directions were issued with specific timelines, PTI reported officials as saying.
The measures will be implemented soon, and the changes are expected to take effect in the next six to seven days, they said.