The Hindu : New Delhi News : Air passengers favour X-ray screening to frisking

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 04, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Air passengers favour X-ray screening to frisking

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 3. A Saudi Arabian national from Riyadh and an Indian citizen from Lucknow today won complimentary tickets for two persons to and fro any destination covered by the Indian Airlines in a lucky draw which was held as part of the Passengers' Feedback Scheme 2004 and was conducted by the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel, at the CISF headquarters here.

The draw, which commemorated CISF's completion of five years in airport security, was held in the presence of the Director-General of the force, K.M. Singh, and the Chairman of the Airports Authority of India, K. Ramalingam. The gathering was informed by Mr. Singh that CISF, which has now been inducted at 47 airports, would also be inducted at all the remaining airports.

He said it was to raise the standard of service to the passengers that the feedback scheme was launched on November 24, 2004, and the feedback was received over the following fortnight from the passengers.

Under the scheme, a total of 116,345 responses were received. Their evaluation revealed that passengers favoured X-ray screening to frisking and desired that CISF personnel possess knowledge of English and some foreign language. Also, they stressed the need for more signages being provided for security procedures at the airports and sought clearance for carrying of small things like scissors, nail-cutters and toys in hand baggage.

The passengers also suggested that sensitive films should be hand checked and not X-rayed, during rush hours the number of security staff should be increased to reduce delays, and second time frisking and hand baggage checking be only resorted to in the event of strong suspicion.

Further, the passengers also called for taking of feedbacks at least once every year and of strict adherence to the queue system at the airports. They also complained that trolley persons ask for tips and demanded strict vigilance at the arrival areas so that they were not cheated or harassed by outsiders.

On the performance of CISF 80 per cent found the staff excellent or very good in frisking in checking, 96 found them courteous and cordial in behaviours and manners, 86 per cent rated the personnel polite in communications skills, 72 percent found the attitude responsive, 97 per cent thought the general behaviour was friendly while 90 per cent described the overall security arrangements as excellent or very good.

Mr. Ramalingam also expressed satisfaction at the functioning of CISF at the airports and said the costs involved in engaging the agency were negligible in relation to the job performed by them.

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