August 16, 2016 8:53 PM

printer

Home Ministry orders security audit of nearly 100 civil airports

Union Home Ministry has ordered security audit of nearly 100 civil airports. It has also decided to bring all such facilities under CISF cover gradually. It has planned random checking of incoming air travellers at the entrance of airports. Standard Operating Procedures for random checking of incoming vehicles of air travellers in city side approach, thorough checking of cargo and detection of flying objects and drones are also being drawn.<br/><br/>Official sources said, the Civil Aviation Ministry's proposal to raise a separate force for aviation security has been turned down.<br/><br/>The decisions were taken at a high-level meeting attended<br/>by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and top officials of Ministries of Home and Civil Aviation in New Delhi on 5th of August.<br/><br/>The move came after the terror attack on Brussels' Zaventem airport where terrorists blew explosives inside the airport terminal, much before the security hold area, where passengers and luggage are checked.<br/><br/>Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr Rijiju said, Government is going to completely overhaul the security apparatus of all airports and a dedicated plan is being worked out. He said, security audit of all airports have been ordered and based on the report, their security will be upgraded.<br/><br/>Out of the total 98 functional airports in the country, 59 are under CISF cover, leaving out 39. Among 98 airports, 26 airports, including Delhi and Mumbai, are considered hyper-sensitive. Of these hyper-sensitive airports, 18 are under CISF cover while six airports like Srinagar and Imphal, are being guarded by CRPF, the state police or by other paramilitary forces. <br/>Under the sensitive category, there are 56 airports out of which only 37 have CISF cover and amongst 16 other airports, only four have CISF security.<br/><br/>The report of the security audit being conducted by a team of experts from Ministry of Home Affairs, Intelligence Bureau, CISF and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security will be submitted within 20 days.

Most Read
View All arrow-right

No posts found.