At airports, they had to be prepared for huge queues, long waits for test results.
As strict testing norms at airports International arrivals begin on WednesdayPassengers from “at-risk” countries had to be prepared for huge queues, long wait times for test results and missed connecting flights. Their only way out, however, is to pay for an expensive rapid RT-PCR test, which costs up to ₹4,500 – almost nine times the routine test.
“I reached Delhi from Spain via Amsterdam on Wednesday morning. The Delhi airport was completely destroyed. I had booked an RT-PCR test online, but I still had to stand in a long queue at the airport and then I was told that I would have to wait for 48 hours for the test result,” said a young female passenger Hindu, He eventually opted for rapid PCR test which takes only an hour to get the result and paid ₹3,900. Still, it took him two hours to complete various formalities and get out of the airport.
“What a racket to make money. If the report can be given in one hour, why six hours for another,” he asked.
ministry guidelines
As per the latest guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, all passengers arriving from “at-risk” countries have to undergo RT-PCR test on arrival and wait for reports before exiting the airport and catching a connected flight. . , Most of the airports provide RT-PCR test and rapid PCR test to the passengers. While the former costs ₹500 per test, the latter costs ₹3,000 at Bengaluru airport, ₹3,900 at Delhi airport and ₹4,500 at Mumbai airport. The waiting time for the former is up to six hours, which can be increased according to the rush of the journey, and the latter from 1 to 1.5 hours. But the chaotic scenery coming from international travellers, especially “at-risk countries,” means most are forced to dig deep into their pockets.
On Wednesday morning, passengers who took the costly test at the Delhi airport were four times more likely than those who opted for the cheaper test. “A total of 1,013 passengers from the four ‘at risk’ flights successfully completed the arrival formalities due to availability of rapid PCR test along with RT-PCR test. Around 792 passengers decided to take Rapid PCR test and 221 passengers opted for RT-PCR test,” Delhi airport said in a tweet.
lack of social distancing
There were also concerns about the lack of social distancing and missing connections.
“I arrived from London this morning and it was a scary and worrying stay at the airport. They are all worried about RT-PCR [tests] And absolutely not following general rules like social distancing and making sure everyone wears masks. Terrible,” Prachi Saraswat said on Twitter.
“Flight with KLM from Copenhagen to Kolkata, with a gap of 5.5 hours between arriving at Delhi at 1:10 and departing at 6:30 with the current RT PCR rule which is going to help me board the connecting flight. Is?” Wrote Shravasti on microblogging site.
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