More baggage belts, wider exit for CSIA

In order to make things easier for passengers and curb anti-smuggling activities at the arrivals section of the integrated Terminal 2 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, two top airport customs officials will have their cabins realigned. This is due to two extra baggage belts being constructed in the arrivals section. The cabins would be shifted in order to add space at the narrow exit from the arrivals section and also to stop additional baggage belts being added from the domestic sector during peak time. This, according to officials, would help intercept smugglers more, apart from adding to the convenience of passengers.

The work for constructing the belts is likely to take around 45 days, claimed officials. According to a Mumbai International Airport Pvt. Ltd. (MIAL) source, increasing the number of baggage belts from 12 to 14 is part of the original plan.

In order to ensure that the area is not congested during peak hours (i.e. during nights), the arrivals area, which follows the baggage belts, is being expanded to facilitate easy flow of passengers. This, however, would require the cabins of the commissioner and additional commissioner of the customs department being realigned.

An airport official said, “This terminal, unusually, has the cabins of the two top airport customs officials right at the exit of the arrival hall. In order to widen the exit point, parts of the two cabins would be removed so that the flow of passengers is not slow or chaotic during the night time.”

Rajv Ranjan, additional commissioner, Mumbai airport customs, said, “The exit point being extended and the two belts being added would not only ease passenger flow but also help us deal with anti-social elements.”