Airport directors to oversee customs, immigration

While an Indian Administrative Service official will hold the post it will still be part of the Airport Authority of India. All airport authorities will report to the airport director.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Chaman Lal Gupta, told The Indian Express that he had written to the government for sanction and the post would be upgraded soon. Explaining the rationale behind the decision, he said that this would ensure 8220;centralised decision making, since variousairport authorities report to several different ministries such as customs to finance and immigration to ministry of home affairs. This will make sure that the confusion ends.8221;

Sources revealed that the Department of Personnel amp; Training were in the process of notifying the post of airport director. The aviation ministry recently issued orders that no VVIP cars be allowed on to the airport tarmac.

The orders say that only the Prime Minister, the President and the Chief Justice be allowed on to the airport tarmac in a 8220;sanitized8221; AAI car. Orders have been issued withdrawing tarmac passes to various politicians including former Haryana chief minister Bhajan Lal and Congress leader M S Bitta among others. Gupta when asked about this said, 8220;We had to rationalize the situation because of the serious security risk being faced at the airports. How can we allow so many cars to go to the tarmac. The decision was long overdue8221;.

Sources revealed that all Indian Airlines and Air India cabin crew will be givensome commando training with the National Security Guards to foil hijack attempts. The training is expected to start next month.