The Hindu : National : Tighter security checks delay flights

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 14, 2006

National

National

Tighter security checks delay flights

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI : With stepped-up security measures at all major airports in the wake of Tuesday's serial bomb blasts in Mumbai's suburban trains, passengers faced long delays at airports on Thursday — running up to four hours in domestic flights.

As key airports continue to be on the high alert list, passengers are being put to hardship as ladder point checks, baggage screening, secondary checks took time. Airline schedules went haywire as passengers were held up.

While admitting to flight delays, Civil Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad said they were caused by the intensified security and was compounded by malfunctioning of some X-Ray machines at Terminal 1-B, catering to private airlines, including Jet Airways, Air Sahara, SpiceJet and Air Deccan.

Mr. Prasad is also meeting representatives of the GMR Group and Airports Authority of India officials to review the situation.

Repairs and construction at Terminal 1-B at the Delhi airport was also being carried out by the newly floated GMR-led joint venture company, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), as part of the first phase of modernisation plan. This led to cramming of space and caused further delays.

Secondary check being conducted on passengers at the ladder point and the baggage check also contributed to delays. Indian Airlines and Kingfisher flights from Terminal 1-A faced delays of about half-an-hour. Urging the passengers to cooperate, officials said security was "not negotiable."

Mr. Prasad said security procedures were reviewed at the meeting with the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) top officials. It was decided to put in place new procedures.

"Instructions have been issued and we hope that the kind of queues witnessed on Thursday will not be repeated," Mr. Prasad told reporters.

Ban on visitors' entry

Besides banning the entry of visitors, the new security arrangements, include deployment of bomb disposal squads, sniffer dogs and sophisticated equipment, besides other procedures. Secondary checks would also be conducted at aerobridges or ladder point on a selective basis.

To a question about deployment of sky-marshals in aircraft, Mr. Prasad said "there is some system already in place." He said all staffers of airports and airlines, besides other workers, were being vetted by security agencies before allowing them entry permits. Airport staffers are likely to get biometric identity cards with more security features such as fingerprints or eye scans.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National