RESTRUCTURING OF BUREAU OF CIVIL AVIATION SECURITY UNDER CONSIDERATION
PARLIAMENTARY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
OF CIVIL AVIATION MINISTRY MEETS
The Government is
examining a proposal to restructure the Bureau of Civil Aviation
Security (BCAS) to make it more effective in the changed aviation
security scenario. This was disclosed by the Civil Aviation Minister
Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain while addressing the Parliamentary
Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry. The Minister
said, there is an urgent need to have a fresh look at the manpower
requirement of BCAS both at the headquarters as well as the field
units. With the changes in the security set up in the country,
including the induction of CISF, NSG Sky marshals etc. it is very
difficult to carry out sensitive, time consuming security related
task. Under the restructuring proposal, four posts of Deputy Commissioner
of Security (Civil Aviation) are to be created exclusively for
the four metros. The existing Regional offices of Deputy Commissioners
of security are to be relocated. Considering the strategic importance
of places the existing RDCOS Offices are proposed to be relocated
to Jammu, Guwahti, Ahmedabad and Hyderabd.
The Civil Aviation
Minister Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said that the Government
is taking steps to ensure full proof security in the aviation
sector. He said while a number of steps have been already taken,
some are in the pipeline which will strengthen the security mechanism.
Giving out the
future plans, he said, smart cards are to be introduced for airports
to streamline and strengthen access control system. At hyper-sensitive
and sensitive airports, Closed Circuit Television is to be installed
for surveillance. The present Door Metal Frame Detectors are to
be replaced with Multi-zone Door Frame Metal Detectors. The Government
is also considering introduction of Integrated Automated Registered
Baggage Screening System which could hasten the process of registered
baggage handling in a safe and secure way.
The Minister
said introduction of Biometric based Integrated Passenger Profiling
System which will ensure identity of the passengers, strengthening
of the cock-pits doors, state of the art communication system
inside Aircrafts to communicate with ground staff in hijack situation
are some of the other steps which are being contemplated.
Shri Syed Shahnawaz
Hussain said, efforts are under way to set up a Civil Aviation
Security Training Academy to meet the growing demand for trained
manpower in the sector. It will meet the requirements of all airport
security units, airlines, Airport Operators and Ground Handling
Agents.
Participating
in the discussion, members suggested the creation of a specialized
force under a single chain of command to ensure discipline and
fix responsibility for lapses, wherever found. They said, multiplicity
of the security personnel responsible for different aspects of
security will make it difficult for fixing responsibility. Members
also suggested that the security personnel should be trained to
be courteous with passengers. Some members expressed concern over
the recent hike in airfares. They complimented the Civil Aviation
Minister for smooth conduct of the Haj flights. Members also stood
in silence for two minutes in memory of the 24 people massacred
in Nadimarg village of Jammu and Kashmir.
Members of Parliament
who attended the meeting are Shri E. Ahmed, Shri Ramesh Chand
Tomar, Shri Ashok Argel, Shri Harpal Singh Sathi, Shri Tarlochan
Singh Tur, Shri Tarit Beran Topdar, Dr. Ashok Patel, Shri Ratilal
K. Verma, Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar, Smt. Renu Kumari, Shri M.V.V.S
Murthi, Shri A.P. Jithender Reddy, Dr. Madan Prasad Jaiswal and
Shri Daud Ahmad from the Lok Sabha and Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Shri
Prem Chand Gupta, Dr. L.M. Singhvi, Shri Ahmed Patel, Smt. Sarla
Maheswari, Shri Dinesh Trivedi and Shri N. Jothi from the Rajya
Sabha.
