Police chart out plans for tight security at Devanahalli airport

Police chart out plans for tight security at Devanahalli airport

K.V. Subramanya

Three new police stations and a separate division to be set up

No right turn on Bellary Road from High Grounds to Hebbal

BANGALORE: As the countdown begins for the launch of Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli on March 29, the police plan to establish three new police stations and create a North-East Police Division headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police to provide security to the airport and surrounding areas.

Bangalore Police Commissioner Neelam Achutha Rao told The Hindu that to ensure better security and traffic management, Devanahalli and some of its surrounding areas that were now part of the Bangalore Rural district, would soon be brought under the jurisdiction of the city police.

The police will make a formal proposal to the State Government about the new police division and establishing two police stations — one each for law and order and traffic— at the Devanahalli airport as well as a traffic police station at Chikkajala, Mr. Achutha Rao said.

The existing law and order police stations at Devanahalli and Chikkajala, now under Bangalore Rural district, would become part of the city police unit and would be upgraded. As the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) took care of the internal security of the airport, the police would provide peripheral security, he said.

Explaining the need for heightened security around the airport, Mr. Rao said commercial activity would take place in the area once the airport became operational.

Besides, there would be frequent and heavy movement of VVIPs. Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) had agreed to provide space on the airport premises to house the two police stations and an office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, he said.

The Emigration Desk at the airport would be handled by the local police until the Intelligence Bureau eventually took over.

The BIAL had agreed to allot space to accommodate 18 tables each at the arrival and departure terminals.

“We had sought space for 20 tables and they were initially willing to provide space for only 15,” the Police Commissioner said.
Free traffic flow

Meanwhile, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) K.C. Ramamurthy said plans had been drawn up to ensure uninterrupted flow of traffic from the High Grounds Police Station junction to the airport via Hebbal flyover.

There would be no provision for right turns or U-turns right through this stretch.