Ahead Of 73rd Independence Day, Airports In Metros On High-Alert

In the wake of recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir, and degrading relationship with Pakistan, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has issued an high-alert at airports across India.

The passengers might have to leave airports early throughout the month of August to avoid long ques due to enhanced security checks of vehicles approaching terminals and of passengers inside the terminals.

The security at the airports is tightened every year in the run-up to August 15. However, the scrapping of Article 370, has made the security agencies to notch up the tight security to avoid any tragedy. The aviation security body have put Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Chandigarh, and Nagpur airports on high alert and have warned them of a possible terror attack. In the alert, the BCAS said, “Recent developments pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and additional inputs received (show) civil aviation has emerged as a soft target for terrorist attacks,” while warning metro airports are more vulnerable. The bureau has also directed to enhance the security at all the flight training institutes in the country.

The security body has also banned the entry of visitors and sale of visitor entry pass at airports from August 10 to 30.

Airports are asked to set up barricades around the airport terminal building and to set up vehicle checkpoints one kilometre away with. The directives further asked the State police or the airport security group to man these checkpoints till August 31, or until further orders. It has issued orders to carry out intensive random checks on vehicles approaching terminal buildings.

The random checks would be done for at least 10 per cent of the vehicles till August 31. Check-in baggage and cargo items will also be screened rigorously.

The issued alert said that there would be an enhanced screening of passenger, including 100 per cent full pat-down search at pre-embarkation security checkpoints. The security body has also advised not to park any vehicle in front of the terminal building.

The busiest airport in the country – Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has enhanced its security and advised the passengers to reach the airport 3-4 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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