2023-12-06 02:01:29
Muscat: The suspension of e-gates at the Muscat International Airport is causing difficulties for passengers. It is understood that the current one has been stopped as part of the installation of face-recognizable electronic gates. Due to this, the immigration counters have been experiencing long queues for several days. It takes hours to complete the immigration process. Also, the lack of separate counters for women, senior citizens and families worsens the situation. This also results in longer wait times for all passengers.
Several passengers have expressed frustration over the current situation at the airport in recent days. Many people land at the airport following traveling for hours. Leaving the plane with the desire to go to the houses and flats to get rid of this fatigue. However, as the e-gate was not working, it took them hours to get out in the past few days. The arrival of more and more flights worsens the situation.
A traveler from Kochi, who did not want to be named, said that it is not right to stop people arriving following a long journey for hours. By paying 10 riyals, you can use the Fast Track system, which offers fast immigration. He said that common people traveling with their families cannot afford this. However, passengers say that they are also facing delays in the fast track system. After seeing the long queues at immigration, many people moved to the fast track system in the last few days. A passenger said that it took half an hour to get out through the fast track. Initially there was only one fast track counter. Later, two counters were opened on the insistence of the passengers, he said. After realizing the situation, the airport authorities opened GCC and Omani counters for passengers from other countries.
Meanwhile, airport sources said that the new e-gate machines will arrive soon and this will solve the problem of long queues at immigration. It is known that the new e-gate will be installed with facial recognition. This system will soon be implemented using state-of-the-art technology. The new system will allow both locals and foreigners to enter Oman without showing their passports using the new gate. Those arriving in Oman on visitor visas will have the same procedures as before.
The first e-gate was opened in 2008 at the old airport. People coming to Oman and going out of Oman might use an ID card or a resident card. With the introduction of e-gates, travel became much easier and one might easily enter or exit Oman through the gates without waiting for a long time to get a visa stamped on the passport.
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