The AAI has been at the receiving end of passengers’ complaints for the delay to clear immigration – both in the departure and arrival terminals of Chennai airport
PRAVASISAMWAD.COM
Over the last few days, if you have travelled to Chennai on an overseas flight, there are chances you will be delayed at the immigration counters. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) which operates Chennai airport has been at the receiving end of passengers’ complaints for the delay to clear immigration – both in the departure and arrival terminals of Chennai airport.
The airport handles around 24 international departures overnight and more than 10,000 international passengers use the terminals per day. On May 18, for example, passengers to Kuala Lumpur had to wait for more than an hour to clear immigration since there were not enough counters to handle the number of passengers. According to passengers, it took almost an hour for everyone to clear immigration at the departure at around 9.50 pm. There were six counters functioning and passengers were divided into groups. That meant that there were only two officers to serve 100 passengers.
There are enough counters but all are not manned. The AAI has taken up the issue and the Airport Director has written to the police top officers to depute personnel. In fact, the AAI Chairman has also taken up the issue with the ministry
On its part, the immigration officials said that there were 13 counters functioning in departures and 12 counters in the arrival terminal. Yet another official said there were nine to 10 counters operational on the same night.
The AAI and airlines have been asking for more staff to man the counters at the arrival and departure terminals but the home ministry has been slow to depute staff. Airport Director Sharad Kumar was quoted by TOI saying that the lack of manpower was the main reason for passengers complaining about immigration delays. There are enough counters but all are not manned. The AAI has taken up the issue and the Airport Director has written to the police top officers to depute personnel. In fact, the AAI Chairman has also taken up the issue with the ministry.
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