Long lines, crowded lounges at IGI Airport as new guidelines come into effect

Under the guidelines, all passengers coming from ‘at-risk’ countries have to compulsorily undergo RT-PCR tests and five per cent of passengers arriving from other countries would have to take the test on a random basis. In the picture, people exit from the arrival section of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi (Reuters)

The passengers will have to wait for the results before leaving the airport or taking a connecting flight. In the image, a healthcare worker collects a coronavirus disease test swab sample from a woman at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi (Reuters)

Airport officials said that more than 1,700 passengers were screened at the Terminal 3 of the airport on Wednesday. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

Flyers complained about long lines, crowded lounges, unclear instructions and costly Covid tests (Express photo/Praveen Khanna)

Suman Sharma (63) went to London to visit her daughter. She had to wait for four hours at the IGI airport to get her RT PCR report. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

Airport officials had Tuesday said they have made seating arrangements for 1,200-1,400 people as they wait, and that around 600 samples can be collected per hour. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

According to airport officials, there are two testing options: The first is to pay Rs 500 for the test. The test results takes around six hours. The second is to pay Rs 3,900 for a rapid RT-PCR test and get the report in approximately 90 minutes. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

According to the Centre, the countries designated as "at-risk" are European countries, including the UK, and South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel. In the image, a woman pushes her trolley cart as she exits from the arrival section of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi (Reuters)

People wait to receive passengers at the arrival section of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi (Reuters)

People hug each other as they exit from the arrival section of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi (Reuters)