MoS For Home Kiren Rijiju Informs Lok Sabha That Six Privately-Owned Airports In India Owe Rs 797 Cr To CISF

In a new revelation, six privately-run airports owe a whopping sum of Rs 797.33 crores to the Central Industrial Security Force for the deployment of its personnel on security duties, as informed by the Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home, Kiren Rijiju in Lok Sabha.

Considered the biggest “defaulter” is Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, operated by the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) which owes an incredible amount of Rs 737 crore to CISF. It has topped the list for not clearing its dues consistently for four years in a row, beginning from 2015 until February 2018.

Earlier, Delhi Airport was not only awarded the “Best Airport Security” by the World Quality Congress but it ranked number one in the world on airport service quality ranking, even better than Heathrow, Dallas, Los Angeles, Dubai and Paris airports.

With a due sum of Rs 48.7 crore, Mumbai Airport operated by the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) ranks second in the list of airports that are yet to clear their dues.

Third in the list is the Bangalore Airport, operated by the Bangalore International Airport Ltd, which owes a sum of Rs 22.86 Lakh. The other smaller airports are the Nagpur and Chandigarh Airports.

Running as public-private venture and operated by the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) reports zero dues.

Steps taken by CISF

Venkatesh Babu, an MP from AIADMK, asked the question on dues that what are the steps taken by CISF for the recovery of its dues.

In his reply, Kiren Rijiju told the Lok Sabha “CISF continuously follows up for early recovery of the dues. Some of the efforts undertaken are:-

a) The matter is regularly taken up by Chief Airport Security Officer (CASO) with Airport Director on a monthly basis for clearing the outstanding dues.

b) The Zonal DIsG vigorously pursue the matter of clearance of outstanding dues with the concerned airport operators in their Quarterly meetings.

c) Airport Sector HQrs has regularly taken up the matter with Chief Executive Officer, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) and other Airport Operators for early clearance of outstanding dues of CISF.

d) Matter has also been taken up by Airport Sector HQrs and CISF HQrs with Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation for giving directions to Airport Operators for early clearance of outstanding dues of CISF.

e) For expeditious clearance of dues, DG/CISF has requested Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation to direct DIAL to clear huge outstanding bill of CISF. This has been followed up at the level of ADG with Chief Executive Officer, Delhi International Airport Limited. Similarly, Chief Executive Officer, Mumbai International Airport Limited has been asked to clear outstanding dues on account of deployment at Mumbai Airport, Maharashtra”.

CISF (Central Industrial Security Force)

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is one of the paramilitary forces established in 1969 to provide integrated security to the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). Presently, it guards 59 civil airports in the country and charges a security fee for protecting these sensitive facilities against terror and sabotage threats.

The levying PSF collects the fund to pay the CISF for its security duties on the travellers using the IGI airport.