Grammy-winning music composer Ricky Kej, who recently returned to India from Cannes Film Festival 2022, said he had a harrowing experience at the Bengaluru airport. Taking to micro-blogging website Twitter, Ricky shared a clap giving a view of the crowded airport with “well over 1000 people waiting” at the immigration hub. He also spoke about the other issues facing Bengaluru airport, including having “so many flight”, but “no capacity”.
In the video, many people were seen waiting near the counters inside the airport. He captioned the post, “Pathetic state of immigration at the Bengaluru International Airport. Been in line for over an hour now. Currently, well over 1,000 people waiting, not all counters working, staff is clueless, inefficient. @BLRAirport Why have so many flights, when there is no capacity? @kiranshaw.”
In a series of tweets, he also wrote, "How are we expected to build #BrandIndia if this is the welcome that everyone gets by the airports. The first impression of India for foreign travellers." "Number of lines to enter Bengaluru, India @BLRAirport--1) Air Suvidha check, 2) Immigration, 3) Check if immigration stamp is accurate (Not joking, this is another line), 4) Baggage screening -Customs, 5) Collecting bags, 6) Customs may do additional screening. STEPS can be reduced!”
Ricky also wrote on Twitter, "I see a lot of comments naming some other country immigration as being worse than Bengaluru. Our mindset needs to change. We are comfortable with ourselves if we are not the worst! Haha.. we pat our backs if we manage to be second to worst. Why not try and be among the best?"
He also responded to Twitter users, who disagreed with him. A person wrote, "I disagree with you. Have come to Blore airport 16 times. Had delayed immigration maybe 2 times because many flights landed at the same time. It's the same even in US airports." Ricky replied, "I came to the blr airport 4 times in just one month. And this is my experience.”
