City airport under gaze of eagle’s eye

City airport under gaze of eagle’s eye
Deccan Herald

The Bangalore airport is shortly going to receive two latest versions of X-ray baggage inspection system, with increased security features to scan “objectionable” objects and also, reduce congestion of passengers waiting for luggage screening.


The Bangalore airport is shortly going to receive two latest versions of X-ray baggage inspection system, with increased security features to scan “objectionable” objects and also, reduce congestion of passengers waiting for luggage screening.

Besides the X-ray scanners, other hi-tech gadgets like X-ray guns are also likely to arrive making airport security foolproof.

Additional security steps have been added since Friday at the airport following the reported threat from Al Qaeda that they may hijack an aircraft from an Indian airport to Bangladesh to demand the release of Afzal Guru, sentenced to death in Parliament attack case. “All baggage are being frisked 100 per cent. Earlier there were random checks but now we have started frisking all baggage. We have also introduced secondary ladder point checking for all the passengers, just before they board the aircraft.


This is being carried out by the airline security staff using hand-held metal detectors (HHMD),” said Mr Kaushal, director, Airports Authority of India, Bangalore. There’s extra surveillance, and vigilance has been upgraded to an all time high. “We maintain a record of the ground staff, who service the aircrafts and are hired by individual airlines. The aircrafts are thoroughly checked and extra precaution is being taken to prevent any subversive activity,” he added.

Around 250 police personnel have been deployed at the airport in three shift duties including surveillance staff in mufti.

HAL has pitched in with extensive patrolling for perimeter security.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is shortly going to have an independent dog squad deployed only for airport security. As of now, they are using the police dog squad for security check.

There are also efforts to give additional space for immigration for international passengers in the near future.

A FEW DO’S AND DONT’S

*For the cabin (all subject to X-ray screening)

*(Women) - 1 hand baggage + 1 purse

*(Men) - 1 hand baggage including laptop

*Mobile phone & camera

*Liquid medicine/gel/contact lens solution etc - upto 100 ml, in a transparent bottle

(for international flights, prescription for medicines is a must)

*Baby food

*Water in a transparent bottle

Some banned objects

*Sharp edged objects including Swiss knife, bottle opener etc

*Toys of weapon category

*Sports - cricket bat, hockey stick, baseball bat etc

*Spices - chilli powder, powdered pepper

Check in time (before scheduled departure)

*Domestic flight - 1 hr

*International - 3 hrs