Midnight flight will keep security men on their toes

Pune: The Pune-Dubai service by low cost carrier Air India Express, commencing on January 14, 2009 will also bring with it a slew of security concerns. Air India has made a special request to the airport director to increase vigilance as the thrice-a-week flight lands around midnight. The Air India station manager has suggested that a registry be kept to keep a tab on passengers at the exit gates of the airport. Post-26/11, security concerns are high as at least 100 passengers from Dubai are expected to fly into Pune every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, the full capacity being 145. “As traffic increases in the night and especially foreign passengers are expected in large numbers, a special registry at the exit gates is a must,” said Dhairyasheel Vandekar, station manager, Air India. Vandekar has written to the airport director in this regard on December 12. “It is better to record passenger names and registration numbers of taxis/autorickshaws in which they commute. Airport administration can take the help of the police in this regard,” says the Vandekar's letter.
Pune airport director G Chandramouli said the authorities were taking all precautions to ensure sufficient security cover for passengers. “We have been handling an international flight operated by Lufthansa, that lands at midnight, for the last 10 months. To that extent, we are ready,” he said.
Chandramouli said there were elaborate guidelines of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) was following them.
24/12/08 SiddharthKelkar/Expressindia

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