CISF Director General Rajesh Ranjan on Monday said ideally the Central paramilitary should secure all the airports in the country including the sensitive airports in Jammu and Srinagar even as the force has identified 3,000 personnel who can be rationalised from the 60 airports it is manning at present.
Ranjan said cost is an inhibiting factor and many smaller airports do not take the services of the CISF. “There is an agreement between the CISF and the Ministry of Civil Aviation that Jammu and Srinagar airports should be secured by the CISF. However, a decision to the effect has not been taken by the expert Ministries,” he said.
According to a report of Bureau of Civil (BCAS), the smaller airports in the country are virtually sitting ducks and prone to terror attacks.
Highlighting the security vulnerabilities of the smaller airports, the BCAS has warned that terrorists can exploit the gaps to target aircraft taking off from them. The BCAS has also underscored that the operators of these airports were not willing to spend adequately on security infrastructure. The BCAS has suggested a regulatory framework so that the airport operators earmark sufficient funds for the purpose.
Amid evolving terror threats, the Bureau has proposed standardised security protocols at these airports, including controlled entry and exit with the help of access cards, biometric credentials and Personal Identification Number (PIN) for different security areas of the airport complex. The protocol followed at all major airports includes metal detector doorframes and frisking and x-ray scanners to check baggage.
The CISF is organising two-day International Aviation Security Seminar-2018 from Tuesday that will see participation from 18 countries and delegations from 14 airlines, Ranjan said while addressing a Press conference on Monday.