Officials said that the new system would help save at least a minute per passenger during peak hours
To ensure speedy clearance and step up vigil, the Immigration Department at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has installed flap gates at 60 arrival counters. Officials said that the new system would help save at least a minute per passenger during peak hours.
The new system was put in place last month. Senior officials said passengers can pass through these gates only after complete scrutiny of their travel documents. This, they said, would help maintain a sharper vigil. The department has also done away with the secondary immigration check point, leading to faster clearance.
The international arrival terminal witnesses a footfall of 25,000-30,000 passengers daily.
At the immigration counter, a passenger will first have to get documents checked on a computer. If everything is okay, the operator will press a button and the flap gates will open, allowing the passengers to proceed. If a complication is found, however, the passengers will be requested to cooperate for further scrutiny, officials said.
"There are 30 such gates. Incoming passengers used to pass through in bulk earlier and crowd management was difficult. Many times, passengers used to sneak out without immigration clearance. This could have been dangerous to the country's security. To ensure that no one passed without a check, we had set up a secondary check near the exit gates," a senior official said.
The official said passengers often complained about the secondary check as it took time and resulted in longer queues during peak hours. "We have been getting positive feedback about the new system. Passengers are happy as they are saving time. These flap gates ensure foolproof checking. This has been done only at the arrival terminal now, while the system at the departure terminal is as it was," the official said.
SMOOTH PASSAGE
Flap gates allow passengers to cross them only after completing the scruitny of all travel documents. There have been instances earlier of people sneaking out of immigration without clearances. The new system would save at least a minute or two per passenger.
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