India travel: Delays, long queues at airport due to new mandatory screening

The new mandate for international arrivals at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi has left the passengers feeling harassed by standing in long queues, for hours, during the X-Ray checking of baggage at the exit of the terminal gates.

International passengers are witnessing sudden delays in exit from Delhi airport due to the mandatory 100 per cent custom X-ray screening of baggage coming from abroad.

The customs officer of Delhi airport told ANI that a 100 per cent X-ray check is now mandatory for baggage at Delhi airport for international passengers reaching the national capital.

Further, a senior customs official, who does not wish to be named, told ANI, “At present, we have three X-ray machines at Delhi airport. We have to ask our top officials to do 100 per cent scanning of international passengers at arrivals. In this regards customs officers have received the orders,” he said.

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Recently, Delhi Airport Customs inaugurated a new X-Ray (scanner) machine to monitor dutiable items and made the screening of baggage of international arrivals compulsory, especially early in the mornings.

Several international travellers, while talking to ANI stated their dissatisfaction with the customs authorities on mandatory X-ray checks of their luggage.

“This is just plain harassment of the passenger and Indian customs going back to the pre liberalization era of the 1980s when international air travellers arriving in India dreaded the third degree they were subjected to by airport customs. It is most surprising that when PM Modi talks about moving ahead, the Finance Ministry which is part of the government is pushing the country back by a few decades,” said a frequent international air traveller who has been undertaking international air travel since 1972.

A major complaint has been filed by international travellers to airport customs and on social media that there is an urgent need for hassle-free exit from customs and it is expected that airport customs will come up with a new barrier where passengers do not feel harassed.