Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The T3 terminal of Delhi Airport descended into chaos ahead of Independence Day, as heightened security measures resulted in extensive queues and significant delays, leaving passengers frustrated. Among those caught in the turmoil was Radhika Gupta, CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, who revealed on social media that the average wait time for security checks had surged to an astonishing 256 minutes.
Radhika Gupta took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her ordeal of navigating the long security queues at the airport. Despite the chaos, she managed to board her flight, thanks to the assistance of airline staff. In her post, Gupta retweeted a video showing the overcrowded security check-in area at Terminal 3, where passengers were seen standing in lines that stretched far beyond normal.
I saw this myself. A harrowed (don’t blame him) airline staff told me the average wait time at security was 256 minutes.
256 minutes.
Was fortunate to make the flight because of the kindness of @airvistara staff but do hope it is addressed. https://t.co/mzXoY9mbv6
— Radhika Gupta (@iRadhikaGupta) August 13, 2024
“I saw this myself. A harrowed (don’t blame him) airline staff told me the average wait time at security was 256 minutes. 256 minutes. Was fortunate to make the flight because of the kindness of @airvistara staff but do hope it is addressed,” Gupta wrote on X.
Her post quickly drew reactions from other users, with one commenting, “256 minutes! Gosh! With 15th August security and T1 closed… a real nightmare.” Another user questioned the cause of the delays, asking, “What were the reasons for these monstrous delays and absolute nightmare travel conditions? Is it just mismanagement, lack of staff, or lack of counters, what is the issue?”
A third user pointed out the absurdity of the situation, noting, “That’s over 4 hours of just security check. For a 2-hour flight, you’d need to start 6 hours before to board it. Seems to be the new norm, since in Bangalore you have to provide for traffic congestion.”
In response to the mounting complaints, Delhi Airport addressed the situation on X, assuring passengers that on-ground officials were doing their best to minimize inconvenience. The airport’s official statement explained that security had been heightened ahead of Independence Day, leading to longer security check procedures. “Any inconvenience caused to you is deeply regretted,” the statement concluded.
As the Independence Day celebrations approached, the increased security measures were expected to continue, raising concerns about further delays and disruptions at one of India’s busiest airports.
