The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
has flagged concerns over the lack of foolproof security at several airports in
the country, most of which were developed under the UDAN scheme launched by the
Narendra Modi government in 2016, sources in the paramilitary force said.
“During enquiry, we have found lacunae in the
existing security mechanism in several airports which need to be addressed on
an urgent basis. We have prepared a report flagging the absence of foolproof
security at several airports,” a CISF official said. The CISF currently handles
the security of around 70 airports. Under the UDAN scheme, the number of
operational airports has increased from 74 in 2014 to around 165.
Local police or other central paramilitary
forces provide security to the remaining airports, which include Gorakhpur,
Mysore, Jabalpur, Ludhiana, Jamshedpur, Cooch Behar and Durgapur. Several of
these airports have been classified “sensitive”. According to the CISF
official, the report has recommended standardised security protocols at these
airports, including controlled entry and exit using access cards, biometric
credentials and personal identification numbers for different security areas of
the airport complex. The protocol followed at all major airports includes metal
detector door frames, frisking and X-ray scanners to check baggage.
The CISF has expressed willingness to handle
the security of airports beyond the 70 it is responsible for in light of
heightened security risks. Sources in the security establishment have also said
that smaller airports were vulnerable to terror attacks.
“Apart from building new airports, we need
better security mechanisms in the light of heightened threat perception. There
are several security vulnerabilities at the smaller airports, and terrorists
can exploit the gaps to target aircraft taking off from there,” said an
Intelligence Bureau official.
The UDAN scheme was launched in October 2016 to
make air travel affordable and strengthen connectivity to tier-II and tier-III
cities. The scheme built dozens of regional airports, but many lie idle after
falling victim to poor planning, low demand and weak connectivity.
Around 15 airports developed under the UDAN
scheme have temporarily ceased commercial operations following low passenger
demand, lack of airline interest and technical and operational challenges,
raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of regional aviation. Of
these 15 airports, seven are in Uttar Pradesh, two in Punjab, and one each in
Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
During a recent internal security review
meeting, CISF officials found that many airports were vulnerable to terror
attacks as the local police responsible for securing the parking area and the
approach road were not fully equipped to handle such threats, the CISF official
said.
“Local police don’t deploy enough personnel to
guard the area around airports and they are also not well-trained to do the
job. There are several lacunae in the security apparatus outside airports which
need immediate attention,” the official said.