The government has decided to enhance security at the 51 major airports in the country to thwart any possible terror attack. The Union home ministry on Wednesday directed the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to ensure installation of CCTV cameras in vital locations at all airports, deployment of adequate security staff and raising of perimeter wall. The home ministry has also directed the BCAS to install enough watch towers at all 51 major airports.
Sources said that the ministry also directed the Central Industrial Security Force, which is responsible for providing security to most of the airports, to make bomb disposal squads and sniffer dogs readily available there. Talking to reporters Union home secretary G.K. Pillai, who chaired the security review meeting of major airports on Wednesday, said, “A time-bound action plan to enhance security at the airports has been drawn up.”
Sources in the ministry said, “There is no major problem in the security of Delhi and Mumbai airports. Security at the Hyderabad airport is not satisfactory. The ministry has directed the BCAS to enhance security at Hyderabad airport within a stipulated time.”
The home ministry also directed the concerned authorities to initiate the process of installing biometric entry system for employees at all airports so that no unauthorised person can get access. It said sensors should be installed on boundary walls of airports to detect unauthorised entry by scalling of walls. There are around 40,000 ground handling staff working at the IGI airport alone in three shifts.