Saturday, October 15, 2016

Soon, CISF to handle security of all airports

Acknowledging the need to upgrade airport security systems in view of a heightened threat of terror attacks, the home ministry and civil aviation ministry on Thursday brainstormed on deploying CISF, which how handles security of 59 airports, at all of the country's 98 airports, in a phased manner.
At the airport security review meeting chaired by Union home minister Rajnath Singh and attended by civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju here, the need to prepare CISF for a larger role in airport security by augmenting its manpower and technological advancements, was stressed. Others present during the deliberations included MoS (home) Kiren Rijiju and Hansraj Ahir, MoS (civil aviation) Jayant Sinha, home and civil aviation secretaries, CISF DG O P Singh and chiefs of director general of civil aviation (DGCA) and bureau of civil aviation security (BCAS).
Home ministry sources indicated that there was agreement that CISF should be brought in to guard all remaining airports in the country, including the Srinagar airport that is currently secured by CRPF, to ensure a standardised airport security drill. This comes in the wake of CISF pointing to fears of a "direct, bold attack at airports from the city area" as well as the past terror strikes at Brussels and Istanbul airports.
"The need to raise more CISF battalions as well as technological advancements such as perimeter intrusion detection system and cyber security systems at airports was underlined. Implementation of additional security measures at all airports identified by a recent audit as hyper-sensitive as well as smaller airports was sought. These would include deployment of more quick reaction teams, including at entrances from the city side," said a senior home ministry officer.
The home ministry, keen to review the current system where security of an airport is determined by the ability of airport operator to pay, wants the feasibility of central funding of all airport security operations, examined. If cleared, this may dispense with passenger security fee (PSF) now built into airfare. Though the meeting discussed the issue, no decision was taken pending examination by the finance ministry.
14/10/16 Bharti Jain/The Times Of India
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