November 17, 2001

'26'

SHAHNAWAZ HUSSAIN OUTLINES PLANS TO STRENGTHEN CIVIL AVIATION SECURITY

INDIAN AIRLINES MARKET SHARE UP BY NEARLY 2 PERCENT

    The Civil Aviation Minister Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain has said that the security of the passengers and vital installation in the aviation sector in the country will not
be compromised. Addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry here today Shri Hussain said, the aviation industry is going through a difficult time following the September 11th attack and the global slowdown. He expressed satisfaction that both Air India and Indian Airlines have not been affected as badly as others. While the market share of Indian Airlines has increased to 51.6 percent during the first half of the current year compared to 49.7 percent last year, Air India has earned a net profit of Rs.11.87 Crore during April-Sept 2001 against Rs.5.25 Crore last year.

    Briefing members of the steps taken to strengthen security after the recent terrorist strikes in Colombo and New York, Shri Hussain said, sky marshals have been deployed on all
the domestic routes including the private airlines. Steps have been initiated to have the same arrangements on Air India flights abroad. CISF has taken over security duties
in 23 airports in the country. For the remaining airports, it will be done in a phased manner in the coming months. The Minister said, a review of security arrangements at major airports in the country has been undertaken jointly by IB,AAI,BCAS,CISF and State Police. He Said, issues like perimeter security, Quick Reaction Team have been discussed and action is on for taking corrective measures.

    Shri Hussain said, a number of steps are being planned to provide fail-safe security to the passengers and the installations. They include introduction of Smart Cards at Airports, Close Circuit Television for surveillance at all hyper-sensitive and sensitive airports, Integrated
Automated Registered Baggage screening system and enhancement of perimeter protection with Intrusion Detection Alarm System.

    The Minister said, a New Civil Aviation Security Act is being enacted. Provision to handle cases like Purulia Arms dropping and exemplary punishment for hoax callers have also been suggested in the new Act. He said, in two cases hoax callers have been identified and legal action has been
initiated. He said, financial approval is required for several of the steps planned.

    Making a presentation the Commissioner of Security, Civil Aviation Shri Veeranna Aivalli said, all the steps taken last year for strengthening security has been endorsed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and they are being made compulsory for other countries. He informed the members that the Director General Civil Aviation has gone into the issue of providing state-of-the-art communication system inside aircraft to communicate with the ground staff in the hijack situation and its recommendations are being implemented.

    Participating in the discussion members of Parliament said security should not be compromised. They however suggested that security personnel at the airports should be courteous and should be properly trained. They also wanted the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security to be strengthened to meet the growing threat perception. They invited the Minister's attention to the existence of slum clusters near several airports which could be a security hazard. They urged the Minister to enforce uniform security standards for all the domestic airlines.

    Members of Parliament who attended today's meeting are Shri E.Ahmed, Shri Ramesh Chand Tomar, Shri Ram Pal Singh, Shri Tarlochan Singh Tur, Shri Chattrapal Singh, Shri Ram Nagina
Mishra, Dr. Ashok Patel, Shri Pawan Singh Ghatowar, Shri Ramesh Chennithala and Smt. Renu Kumari from Lok Sabha and Shri Suresh A. Keshwani, Shri Prem Singh Gupta, Shri Santosh Bagrodia, Smt. Ambika Soni and Smt. Sarla Maheswari from the Rajya Sabha.