CISF faces tough time during Bagdogra airport rush

MANAS R BANNERJEE, SNS, 3 JANUARY 2018: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel is under tremendous  pressure  as it handles passengers that are three times more than the capacity as it handles  in security that the Bagdogra Airport's security hold area can manage.

According to sources, passengers face "terrible situation" sometimes when around hen around 1600 of the mentor enter the security hold areas at almost one go to board at least nine flights that take off from the airport between 3 pm and 5 pm. Trouble often breaks out in such situation as both the CISF and airlines staff fail to clear passengers on time.

Due to space constraints aw well as lack of infrastructure as well and inadequate number of CISF personnel in security hold areas, passengers sometimes fail to maintain patience as they stand in long queues to hoard the flights.

Both the CISF and airlines officials face challenges and are adopting some new methods so that passengers don't miss their flights due to long queues and the long procedures for scanning their belongings,' a senior airport official said.

Asked to comment, Bagdogra Airport Director Rakes R Sahay admitted the "practical problems" in security hold areas during clearance of hundreds of passengers.

" I always ask the staff associated with the airport to keep patience so that passengers, specially tourists, donot tell others of their bitter experiences after returning from Bagdogra," Mr Sahay said.

"Some passengers, mainly tourists, arrive at the airport at least two hours before the boarding time and enter the security hold areas on time. They do not face problems. I want to appeal to all passengers to enter the security hold areas and line up well in time," Mr Sahay said, adding, "If they are in a long queue and there is a possibility of them missing their flights, please tell the CISF personnel and any staff who has an Airport Id Card, and seek help. They must extend help so they do not miss their flights".

According to official sources, passengers start entering the security hold areas from around 1 pm to board the flights for around 3 pm.

A top official of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said CISF and other officials are engaged in scanning passengers. Passengers registered luggage and cabin luggage.There are two x-ray machines and their capacity is to scan 300 bags per hour belonging to 400 passengers on an average. At least two hours are required for scanning 600 bags. If 900 passengers enter the security hold area altogether the situation goes beyond control.

On the other hand, airport officials need two hours to cater to 800 passengers, but they will have to cater to 800 passengers within the stipulated time so that they can board aniline flights between 3 to 5PM. Notably,the sitting capacity of passengers inside the security hold area is far less than the present normal flow of passengers.

Commenting on the situation inside the security hold areas, Mr Sahay said: "Sometimes, passengers miss their flights due to their ignorance during security checking.The Door Frame Metal Detector (DFMD) scans three zones of the body, from top to bottom. If three lights are on when a passenger passes through the DFMD, security officials will scan his whole body. Certainly it takes more time and such passengers may miss the flight."

"Secondly, CISF officials use the hand held Metal Detector (HHMD) for security reasons. This is a tedious process for the CISF because they are under-staffed here.At least 3000 passengers are departing from here through three lines. Just imagine the condition of a CISF jawan, who is continuously checking 1000 passengers' body from top to bottom with the HHMD," Mr.Sahay said.

(To be continued)\