Need security at gates of airport terminal: CISF

The CISF – which is responsible for securing IGIA — has mooted the idea since the Delhi airport is considered to be one of the 22 “hyper-sensitive” airports in the country.

Sources told Newsline that the CISF had written to BCAS requesting that security arrangements, in the form of metal detectors or baggage scanners or even manual frisking, be allowed at the terminal gates.

“As of now, the CISF has deployed intelligence surveillance teams across the airport. If these teams notice suspicious activity, they have the authority to detain and question or hand persons over to the concerned agency. However, there is no instrument or process in place at the terminal gates to detect if a person is armed. This leaves the airport completely exposed,” a senior airport official said.

While the number of CCTV cameras and manual surveillance has been increased on the periphery, the CISF claimed that rules do not permit them to frisk passengers at the terminal gates.

An official of BCAS, however, claimed that the rule was made to ensure that fliers don’t get stuck in long queues at the gates itself.

“The security check at the entrance to every airport should be stringent so that any armed person is caught immediately. The distance between the entrance and the security hold area is several metres,  giving miscreants enough time to carry out mischief,” the officer said, adding that the matter had been referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs.