Delhi: Vande Bharat returnees continue to face a harrowing time
NEW DELHI: Madhubala Rai, who travelled alone from San Francisco to Delhi last week, said it took her at least seven hours to reach her hotel. Her flight landed at 3.30 pm on June 26, but it took her several hours to clear the APHO screening, immigration and customs.
“I guess there were multiple flights at the same time because of which there were many passengers. After reaching the triage area, it took us another one-andhalf hours. We could only board the bus by close to 10 pm and were sent to our designated quarantine hotel,” Rai said.
Nearly two months after the Central government launched the Vande Bharat mission to bring back Indians stranded in other countries, passengers arriving in Delhi continue to face a harrowing time with most of them spending six to seven hours to go through the complete process of security checks, screening, selecting a hotel for quarantine, and finally arriving at the facility.
Another passenger, who arrived at the Delhi airport on June 25 from Washington D.C. said he spent six-seven hours at the airport.
The passenger, who asked not to be named, said the process felt like a major hassle because the triage area, where the Delhi government officials attend the passengers, is relatively small.
“Inside the airport, we do not have all our luggage and it is all air-conditioned but the triage area is not air-conditioned and because it’s a small area, if there are multiple flights at the same time, social distancing also goes for a toss,” he said.
The crowding is intensified by the fact that passengers are also carrying all their luggage by the time they come to this area.
At the designated triage area, all passengers are screened for Covid-19 symptoms at screening counters manned by medical officers and paramedics deputed by the Delhi Government.
The passengers are also guided about protocols to be followed in quarantine centres.
“The director-general of health services has deputed 20 health teams, comprising doctors and paramedics for this purpose. We have been trying our best to complete the screening quickly, but most of the passengers who arrive seem to be very anxious and confused about the system. So, it takes time to explain the system and procedures to each one,” said a senior government official deployed at the airport.
Many commuters also complained of not being allowed to take cabs or private vehicles to reach their chosen paid hotel quarantine facilities.
“They put us in buses . The administration should also keep an option of hotel taxis so that those who want to go in a car can reach their quarantine facility quickly,” said another passenger who arrived from Australia and is currently in quarantine in a five-star hotel.
A second government official who is part of the team engaged in the transportation of the passengers from the airport to the designated hotel quarantine centres said air-conditioned Delhi Transport Buses Corporation buses have been requisitioned.
“We cannot engage taxis and increase the number of vehicles as surveillance would then become a big problem”, this person added.
Even the Maharashtra government and the BMC follow the same approach in Mumbai.
P Velarasu, Additional Municipal Commissioner in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, in charge of Vande Bharat in Mumbai, said, “We have to account for every person who lands in Mumbai. So we have to take them in government organised transport, either to a hospital, or quarantine facility, as is required. If and when the passengers are discharged from the quarantine, organising transport is their own responsibility.”