Babus present a flying gift to themselves

New Delhi: In a bizarre, please-all move, the civil aviation ministry has decided to gift all its previous secretaries lifelong free air ticket upgrades to first class on Air-India and unhindered access to any area of any airport in the country.
Top retired bureaucrats in the department from the 1964 batch onwards have been issued an Orange Security Pass, which allows them the aforementioned privileges in addition to protocol and escort services at any airport in India, including access to VIP lounges and VIP parking areas.
On March 16, the ministry issued the controversial order to the Airports Authority of India, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, airports and airlines and sought a compliance report by April 30. The order also allows the retired bureaucrats and their immediate family free automatic upgrades to first class cabins on any Air-India flight.
Along with the order, the ministry also enclosed a list of 24 former civil aviation secretaries who would be entitled to these facilities.
The Orange Pass, issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, allows its holder unrestricted access to any area inside the airport, including its operational areas.
This is the highest category of access currently available only to flying crew, officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), aircraft engineers and security personnel.
The next category is the Purple Pass, followed by the White Pass, which allows access to a few select terminal areas.
A top ministry official, however, stated that this is a courtesy being extended to former bureaucrats since they are old people and no one recognises them at the airport.
27/03/10 Ajmer Singh/Mail Today/India Today

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Categories: Airports Mar 2010, NACIL Mar 2010