The government has decided to add at least 55 more immigration counters at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport by January to deal with the congestion at the counters, the Home Ministry said on Thursday. The Delhi airport currently has 75 immigration counters at both the arrival and departure halls.

The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, after the Home Ministry took note of the complaints about congestion and long queues at the immigration counters during peak hours.

The Delhi International Airport Limited will provide space for at least 10 immigration counters at the departure hall, which will be functional by November 20, the Home Ministry said. There will be at least 10 counters by end November to process electronic visas.

The departure hall will get additional space for 10 more immigration counters and another 25 counters for e-visas by end January.

The Bureau of Immigration has been asked to add 1,800 staff to the manpower to improve immigration services and provide equipment such as passport reading machines and web cameras.

“The decisions will substantially improve immigration services at the Delhi international airport, which will facilitate not only foreigners coming to India, but also Indian travellers going abroad,” the ministry said.