Tents to greet you at Delhi's modern airport

The next time you visit the Delhi airport, look for tent-like structures to locate your check in or immigration counters rather than the state-of-the-art terminal building that was promised Terminal Series.

Two years after it handed over Delhi airport to the GMR-led consortium with a lot of pomp, the government has finally veered round to the view that the prescription has been worse than the disease. Members of the Prime Minister's Infrastructure Committee termed the Delhi airport management plan "a total failure" on Monday and suggested a series of damage-control measures.

In contrast to the grand vision of a world-class terminal beckoning passengers, the GMR-managed Delhi International Airport (DIAL) has been asked to set up temporary 'tent-like' structures to enhance check-in and immigration facilities.

A staunch supporter of the corporatisation process, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia was at the forefront of the 'review' , which found the new airport manager not measuring up to expectations on many counts.