The heightened security checks implemented ahead of India’s 78th Independence Day celebrations in the national capital have caused widespread chaos at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 3. Passengers are facing serpentine queues and significant delays, leading to frustration and complaints about poor crowd management and lack of support from airport staff.
Several passengers took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share videos and pictures of the overcrowded terminal, highlighting the dire situation. Kartik Jindal, a CA student, pointed out the lack of resources amidst a surge in passengers. “This is not a railway station nor a bus stand, this is our world-famous IGI Airport Terminal 3, New Delhi,” Jindal said, “2-3 hours waiting time for security, passengers are increasing day by day but resources are the same as before.”
Another user, Aashir, complained about the poor crowd management and lack of assistance from airport staff. “Horrible scenes at the T3 airport. Huge long queues, no support from the airport staff, poor crowd management. It is 3pm, definitely not peak rush hours,” Aashir said.
NK Singh, another X user, highlighted the excessive time taken for security clearance, leading to overcrowding both inside and outside the terminal. He also pointed out the malfunctioning Digi Yatra Office, further contributing to the delays.
A traveller, Junaid Merchant, expressed concern for passengers who might miss their flights due to the lengthy security checks. “@DelhiAirport if the security does not speed up. Lots of people are going to miss their flights,” Merchant tweeted.
While acknowledging the inconvenience caused, Delhi airport officials stated that they are working closely with CISF officials to ensure a smooth travelling experience. The airport attributed the delays to the heightened security measures implemented in light of Independence Day celebrations and intelligence inputs about potential disruption by anti-national elements.
It’s worth noting that Delhi Airport (Indra Gandhi International Airport) has been ranked among the top 10 busiest airports globally for 2023, handling over 7.22 crore flyers. With Independence Day approaching, authorities have increased security across the national capital, adding an extra layer of security at key locations to prevent any potential disruptions.
