A team constituted by the Centre to look into threat perception posed to the sensitive Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport due to the upcoming hospitality district — Aerocity in the neighbourhood, has suggested slew of measures.
The recommendations by a joint team of the aviation and security-related officials suggested that the windows of the hotels facing the main runway should remain closed always and the private owners should install bullet-proof tinted glasses on the windows. Four hotels — MGM, Novotel-Pullman, Hyatt and JW Marriott have runway-facing rooms.
It was also recommended that all the hotels should be equipped with an alarm system to raise an alert in case the windows are opened or broken. Apart from the hotel premises, all the access roads to the hotel complex should be secured by the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras to monitor the movements of the people closely.
“Hotels have been instructed to ensure that there is thorough screening of the visitors’ baggage. The hotels have been asked to make sure that the visitors are frisked thoroughly and every visitor’s entry is made with an identity card. The team has also pitched for an extensive patrolling of the area by Delhi Police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF),” said a senior airport official.
These recommendations have been submitted with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) which are to be adhered by the private developers. The team recently visited United States and Amsterdam to spell out the exact threat perception. Security agencies fear that the main runway 29/11 falls in line of sight from the hotel structures of the Aerocity complex, and therefore, they can be used to target the Airport.