When this reporter visited the terminal his evening, day-old flowers and buntings festooned the spanking new terminal from its grand inaugural ceremony yesterday. Staff of Indian Airlines and Alliance Air manned the 34 check-in counters and those around the terminal moved around with tense looks, as the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Ananth Kumar was scheduled to come which kept most on their toes.

However, confusion was writ large on many a passenger's face including those of former Union ministers Balram Jakhar and G. Venkatswamy. An Indian Airlines official said: ``We were told to make the terminal operational, so we have worked non-stop over the last three days -- even during the nights. We still need some time for finishing touches.''

Inside the security-hold area, the situation was no different. IA officials went around alternately trying to placate passengers and muttering into their walkie-talkies. Many passengers seemed aghast at not being informed about the flight delay. ``I tried calling up the terminal many times, but the number was busy and now they have told me that the flight has been delayed,'' said an irate passenger bound for Pune on IC-849 which had been delayed by an hour.

Two Alliance Air and an Indian Airlines aircraft were delayed and an IA Calcutta flight cancelled. The delay proved fruitful for politicians like Sudhakarao Naik and Praful Patel of the Congress who took time out to could be seen sitting in a corner earnestly discussing the fallout of the Maharashtra imbroglio.

Many found the delay too boring and even the belated announcement that snacks would be provided to passengers whose flights had been delayed didn't help matters either.

Passengers rushed to the snack bar close by, where they were they were told that they can only get snacks only at the snack bar outside in the check-in area. They had to go through the security check again and many opted to stay in. ``It is ridiculous, they didn't announce the delay earlier, now they expect us to go through the security check again, this a crazy,'' said Priti Narain, a passenger travelling on IC-849 to Pune.

``I had read in the newspapers about the special room for kids at the terminal, and as our flight has been delayed I wanted to takemy kids there. The security staff said that we have to go through the entire security check again if we go out. This is funny, why have they kept the toys if the kids can't play with them,'' complained Manju Sharma, another passenger.

Even those who rushed to the telephone booth had to wrestle with the coin operated public telephone booths, as the two complimentary phones set up by the MTNL, were yet to come to life. Even the phones installed by AAI, couldn't be used as there was no dial tone.

The moment the departure of flights to Mumbai and Pune was announced, the announcer again made a mistake and then tried rectifying it. And what followed was a round of musical chairs, with passengers going to the wrong exit gate to board the coach, only to be told by the security personnel that they have to go through a different gate.

``That's what they announced just now, why can't I go this gate,'' argued the old man only to be told to go to the other gate. He did go, but did vent his anger by refusing to take the rosebuds being distributed by the IA hostesses.

The IA officials blamed it on the AAI, saying that the announcement system was not functioning properly which caused the confusion. However AAI officials passed the buck on claiming that they had even received complaints about the baggage X-ray belt from passengers. ``We have told them to rectify it, besides the security hold area is only meant for waiting for a short time, if the flights are delayed then IA should inform the passengers in advance and accommodate them in the check-in area,'' said an official.