Up and ready,but no one to welcome

Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar said,“The location of hotels is very dangerous… in close proximity to runways and aircraft,multiplying the threat perception to the (Indira Gandhi International) airport.”

The hotels are in a bind,fretting about investments made and mounting losses. They say when they agreed to come to Aerocity,no one told them about this roadblock.

Lemon Tree Premier and Red Fox hotels have been waiting to open since December. Their combined daily loss,according to an official in one of the hotels,is estimated at Rs 20 lakh. The Ibis,which does not face the runway,has been ready for over a month.

The InterGlobe Enterprises has invested Rs 1,200 crore to build three airport hotels under Accor brands Ibis,Novotel and Pullman. Other hotels planned at the site include Andaz by Hyatt Hotels Corp,Aloft by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide,Holiday Inn by InterContinental Hotels Group and a Dusit D2 hotel.

The Aerocity hotel project was to be ready for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. But missed deadlines apart,what is worrying these hotels is that “there’s no word on when this uncertainty will end”.

The police commissioner acknowledges there’s a problem but he says they were never consulted when approvals were sanctioned.

“We have never faced such a situation before,so dealing with it would take its own time. Even though we have asked these hotels to make changes,we are not sure if they can still be allowed to open to public,” Kumar said.

Aviation authorities say that in their meetings with security agencies,the main threat cited is that the runway is in direct line of sight from at least four of the 12 hotels — MGM,Novotel-Pullman,Hyatt and J W Marriott.

The 43-acre site is owned by IGI Airport operator Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL). In 2011,Delhi Police first raised the red flag about a heightened threat perception,calling it a potential launchpad for militant attacks.

To figure a way out,a team comprising ministry and security officials even visited Amsterdam and San Diego in March to examine how these cities handle “city-side security” at their airports.

“There is a policy in place to mitigate aircraft safety concerns,but none for security. San Diego airport maintains extra vigil on the city side and has a very advanced system in place to detect perimeter intrusion. The perimeter intrusion detection system at Delhi airport is not even half as effective,” an official,who was part of the team,said. .

When DIAL’s response was sought,a spokesperson said,“On January 22,the Ministry of Civil Aviation issued guidelines on security to be followed by entities in the hospitality area. DIAL briefed all developers on the guidelines.”

“While we will continue to assist the developers for BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) coordination,the prime responsibility of obtaining clearances rests with individual developers and not DIAL,” the spokesperson said.

AEROCITY ON PAUSE

n Aerocity site,spread over 43 acres,is owned by IGI Airport operator DIAL

n In 2007,government clears plans for a major hotel project in country

n 12 hotels with 5,400 rooms were to be ready by CWG 2010

n In 2011,police raise red flag,says hotels’ proximity to runway poses threat

n Lemon Tree Premier,Red Fox waiting to open since December 2012

n Hotels say daily losses mounting,others not sure if they should go ahead with plans

n DIAL says responsibility of obtaining clearances with individual developers

n Police chief says hotels told to make changes,not sure if they can be opened to public