One of the two X-ray machines for scanning hand luggage in the departure area of Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport is out of order for over a week.

As a result, fliers have to wait in long queues before reaching the departure gates, at times even leading to scuffles.

"I faced a lot of hassles while boarding a flight to Pune on Tuesday," said Pranav Kumar from Patna, who works with a private firm in Pune. "My flight was scheduled to depart at 9.30am and I had reached the airport at 8.40am. Though there was sufficient time to board the flight, I could only manage to reach the departure gate in the nick of time as there was a long queue for scanning hand luggage after boarding passes were issued."

Private airline officials too said they have complained about the defunct X-ray machine in the departure area to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

"It is true that chaos occurs at times in the departure area as one of the two X-ray machines used for scanning hand luggage is defunct. We have made a complaint in this regard to the AAI," said a senior executive of a private airline at Patna airport.

Airport director Rajendra Singh Lahauria assured that the problem would be resolved within a week.

"We are aware that one of the X-ray machines in the arrival area is not functioning," he told The Telegraph. "We are looking into the problem and the machine would either be repaired or replaced with a new one within a week."

The X-ray machine in the departure area apart, two baggage scanners are proposed to be installed in the arrival area as well, primarily to check for liquor. As of now, baggage scanning is not done in the arrival areas at the city airport. Though arrests would not be carried out at the airport even after start of baggage scanning, all fliers will be required to get their baggage scanned.

"We have already got the consent from the AAI for installing baggage scanner equipment at Patna airport. Two baggage scanners will be placed in the arrival area so that people coming from other states do not bring liquor in Bihar," said a senior official in the excise department. Following talks with the AAI, the excise department deployed two officers of inspector-rank at Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport from the first week of May.

The officers, however, do only random scanning of fliers at present. In case anyone is found with liquor, they are asked to surrender but not arrested - unlike elsewhere in the state.