Panel reviews security at IGI Airport

New Delhi: A parliamentary committee on transport, tourism and culture visited reviewed the security at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Security agencies had earlier raised security concerns over growing commercialisation inside Terminal 3 which could pose a grave security threat during any emergency or unwanted situation and can affect evacuation process.

The committee has strongly supported the operationalisation of T2 soon to reduce congestion at the airport, sources said.  

Sources said that the unscientific and unorganised commercial usage of space available for passengers, especially by restaurants, retail outlets, duty-free complexes and executive lounges, could pose a possible blockade for the free movement of passengers during a terror attack or disaster situation. “The advice of security agencies is being overlooked for commercial interests,” the sources added.

It will be a difficult task to keep a tight vigil at the crowed terminal in case of any emergency or terror attack takes place, one of the security agency attached to the airport had warned. “With the numbers of shops and eateries mushroomed at IGI Airport, it can make it difficult to evacuate passengers at the Delhi airport if needed,” sources added. At a time when passenger traffic continues to grow faster than expected, the sources said, security of the passengers are being ignored by the airport operator and government due to extensive commercialisation.

“Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is responsible for the safety and security of the airport, sees these commercial establishments as a “major hindrance” in the evacuation process in case of any security situation,” said the sources.

The two terminals — T1 and T3 — serve more than 150,000 passengers every day with nearly 1,200 flights arriving or departing. Earlier, the CISF raised the issues in letters to the civil aviation ministry but got no response, said the sources.