Glass shields at Delhi's IGI Airport for shorter queues

NEW DELHI: Days after media reports of long queues being recorded at Indira Gandhi International Airport with passengers having to wait for 10 to 12 hours to get through the immigration process, protective glass shields have been installed at the immigration counters, allowing faster processing of passengers while maintaining social distancing norms.
Sources said around 150 glass shields have been installed, including at the e-visa counters and in both the arrival and departure areas.
Confirming the developments, IGI operator Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said two people could now safely complete their immigration process at the same time, while also maintaining social distancing norms. DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar said efficiency levels are expected to improve with the protective shields now in place, allowing more passengers to be processed each hour.
“The safety of everyone working at Delhi airport is paramount to us. As a part of our preparedness for resumption of international commercial service, we have installed glass shields at immigration counters so that two persons can safely complete the process from each counter without compromising their safety,” Jaipuriar claimed.
IGI is currently operating at 10% of the original traffic due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. To make the process even faster going ahead, computerised camera-based thermal scanners are also being used in order to reduce time at the Airport Health Organisation checking counters.
TOI had reported last week how passengers had to wait for long hours in order to get through the immigration process without any food or water. To change that, DIAL has also set up food and beverage kiosk in the area, along with additional seats.
“Computerised camera-based thermal scanners are also functioning at the arrival and departure gates to ensure that each passenger’s temperature is measured in real-time. These scanners capture the body temperature automatically as a passenger passes through the gates,” said an airport source.