Efforts on to bring entire Juhu aerodrome under CISF cover

Mumbai: The Juhu aerodrome, one of the largest helicopter bases in the country, may soon be brought under Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) cover. This process gained momentum in a recent meeting attended by Home Secretary G K Pillai in Mumbai, airport sources said.
The proposal also includes setting up around 10 watch towers at the airport.
“Part of the airport which is under ONGC is already under CISF security. There is a desire that the entire airport be brought under CISF cover for better security,” said an official.
At present, the airport handles around 90 helicopter operations with a few small aircraft coming here for maintenance. Most of the helicopter operations are off shore, at the oil rig at Bombay High but the airport also sees a significant VIP movement including those of key industrialists. The need to thwart a possible security breach at the Juhu aerodrome was apparently felt during Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Mumbai earlier this year. “The airport is surrounded by hutments; although there is security it can be breached at certain areas,” said an airport officer. Currently the police is responsible for security cover at this airport.
CISF officials said that the process was still at a preliminary stage as the Airports Authority of India — which controls the Juhu airport — is yet to formally write to the CISF.
09/06/10 Ranjani Raghavan/Express India

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Categories: Airports Jun 2010