55 immigration counters to ease rush at IGI airport

NEWDELHI: Following rising passenger complaints about long queues at the Delhi airport, the Union home ministry held a high-level meeting on Wednesday and decided to open 55 additional counters by January next year.

An Union home ministry spokesperson said a passenger had tweeted the photo of long queue at an immigration counter at the IGI Airport. Reacting to the post, Union home secretary Rajiv Gauba had called the meeting.

The Delhi airport has 75 immigration counters — both at the arrival and departure halls, including those for e-visa, the spokesperson said.

The passenger rush at Delhi airport has increased approximately from 30,000 in 2015 to 41,000 passengers per day

To improve the services at the airport, the officials discussed improving technology, providing modern equipment, additional space and professional manpower.

Senior officials of the home ministry, Bureau of Immigration and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which operates the IGI Airport, participated in the meeting.

“The Bureau of Immigration (BOI) will provide an additional 1,800 personnel for improving immigration services by filling up vacant posts, inducting personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces and also some ex-servicemen,” the home ministry said i n a statement released on Thursday.

“The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) will provide space for at least 10 immi- NEWDELHI: In a bid to improve facilities and security at the Indian airports, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) conducted a stakeholder feedback survey, said an official. The week-long survey was conducted at the airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Kochi. The survey was completed on November 2. Agencies rated the CISF between excellent and average on parameters like professional competence , and cooperation and coordination with other stakeholders.

gration counters at the departure area by November 15, while additional space will be provided for another 10 immigration counters to be made functional by January 2018,” an MHA official said.

At least 10 e-visa counters would be made functional for electronic visa facility for foreigners by November 30.

Twenty-five more counters for electronic visa facility will be made functional by January 2018, the statement said. Electronic visa is granted to citizens of over 160 countries.

An assessment has found that each passenger spends about 50-90 seconds at an immigration counter.