'Responsibility Of Airport Operator': Scindia Issues Key Orders To Ease Passenger Congestion

Scindia further said that these steps will also be taken at the Bengaluru and Mumbai airports. At BIAL, two additional X-ray machines have started functioning on Wednesday

New Delhi: Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday said the passenger congestion at entry points and check-in counters at Terminal 3 of Delhi Airport have eased and added that it is the responsibility of the airport operator to provide a conducive environment for travel, news agency ANI reported.

After a three hour-long meeting with the airlines, airport authority, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BACS), Scindia said four more X-Ray machines have been added at the security hold area, the display boards showing the wait time have been put up, CISF deployment already started and it will gradually step in the coming days.

He further said that these steps will also be taken at the Bengaluru and Mumbai airports. At BIAL, two additional X-ray machines have started functioning on Wednesday, he said.

“It's the responsibility of the airport operator to provide a conducive environment for the passengers to travel,” Scindia said, adding, “The boom in India's civil aviation sector needs to be accompanied by a capacity increase across the board. A strong Rs 98000-crore capex for airports is in the pipeline.”

The minister said that the winter rush of passengers at Delhi airport was “unexpected” and all agencies have swung into action over the last 24-36 hours to mitigate congestion at all major airports.

“No one had anticipated such a rush for the winter festival vacations. Between the demand of passengers wanting to travel and the supply by airlines sits the airport, which have to provide a seamless and efficient service. It is the airport operator's responsibility to provide that service,” Scindia told NDTV in an interview.

It is to be noted that earlier on Monday, Scindia, along with senior ministry officials, visited T3 of the airport amid complaints from passengers about long queues and waiting hours in recent days.

Over the last few days, passengers have been complaining about long waiting hours at the Delhi airport and some also shared pictures of the crowd at the airport on the social media.