BCAS yet to pull up its socks

Chennai: The existence of a Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) at the Chennai airport looks like a big joke.
The body that is responsible for ensuring airport security operates in the worst of government offices module as it only clears the paperwork that comes to its desk.
“It is very bureaucratic in the sense one doesn’t raise an eye to security violations that are glaring in the eye,” said an airport source. It is not only the small issues that the BCAS is turning a blind eye to but also the larger safety violations that are just being allowed.
For instance, people are allowed inside the terminals and airport banned areas without proper passes because of their familiarity. “The terminal expansion work that is taking place is right outside the parking bays of the planes. Close to 500 workers have been working there for months together and they have no pass from day 1. Out of them there are 300 labourers who have been working for a long time but they don’t have any pass either.
If one was to go by rules, no one is allowed near the airport area without a photo identity pass issued by the BCAS. But the authorities have set this rule aside. Neither are there any background checks on these labourers who come from the Eastern part of India nor is their adequate security around the place where the construction is going on near the parking bays and the runway. In such a scenario what is the point posting men on the terminal gates with rifles in their hands?” explains an airport staff.
01/07/09 ExpressBuzz

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Categories: Airports Jul 2009, Safety Jul 2009