Plans to tone up aviation security

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 17. The security of air passengers and vital installations in the aviation sector will not be compromised, the Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr. Shahnawaz Hussain, told the members of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry at a meeting today.

The September 11 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York had impacted the aviation industry which was going through a ``difficult phase'', but Air India and Indian Airlines had not fared so badly.

While the market share of Indian Airlines had increased to 51.6 per cent during the first half of the current year as against 49.7 per cent last year, Air India had earned a net profit of Rs. 11.87 crores during April-September compared to Rs 5.25 crores last year.

The Minister said in the wake of terrorist attacks in Colombo and New York, a review of all security arrangements at major airports had been undertaken jointly by the Intelligence Bureau, the Airports Authority of India, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, the Central Industrial Security Force and the State Police. Issues such as perimeter security and Quick Reaction Team had been discussed and action was being taken for corrective measures.

Mr. Hussain said a number of measures were being planned to provide fail-safe security of air passengers and vital installations. These included introduction of Smart Cards at airports, closed circuit television for surveillance at all hypersensitive and sensitive airports, Integrated Automated Registered Baggage screening system and enhancement of perimeter protection with Intrusion Detection Alarm System.

The Minister said a new Civil Aviation Security Act was being enacted. Provisions to handle cases such as the Purulia Arms drop and exemplary punishment for hoax callers had also been suggested in the new Act. However, financial approval was required for several of the steps being planned, he added. Outlining the measures already in place, Mr. Hussain said sky marshals had been deployed on all domestic routes by all airlines including Air India. The CISF had taken over security duties at 23 airports and the rest would be covered in phases.

Making a presentation, the Commissioner for Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Mr. Veeranna Aivalli, said all steps taken to strengthen security measures had been endorsed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and were being made compulsory for other countries. Steps were being taken to provide state-of-the-art communication system inside an aircraft to communicate with a ground staff in a hijack situation.

Participating in discussions, members of Parliament pointed to the existence of slum clusters adjoining some of the airports as security hazards. They urged the Minister to enforce uniform security standards for all domestic airlines.

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