As per lockdown guidelines, the domestic passengers who land in Chennai would be allowed to exit only after producing e-pass. Revenue officials are deployed at an e-pass counter at the domestic terminal to guide the passengers to apply for the e-pass if they failed to apply before boarding the flight or to correct the mistakes in the pass. Officials from Chengalpattu are on duty at the counter on shift basis.

On Thursday, two flights arrived from Hyderabad at 7.30 am and at 8.30 am. More than 200 passengers who had already got their e-passes approved over online were allowed to exit. But nearly 100 passengers who had not applied for e-pass were asked to apply for it at the special counter.

When the passengers went to the counter, they found it closed. After waiting for a while, they began to argue with the security officials. Official informed them that the Revenue officials who were supposed to come for the morning duty failed to turned up. They managed to pacify the passengers eventually. It was only after two hours that the staff reached there and began issuing passes to the passengers. Airport officials said they have informed the District Collector about the delay, adding that the Chengalpattu district administration was inquiring with the staff about the reason for it.

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