Three AP airports, one in MP to get CISF cover

NEW DELHI: Three civil airports in Andhra Pradesh and one in Madhya Pradesh are soon expected to be brought under the armed security cover of central paramilitary CISF.

The airports which are set to get the special cover include Vijaywada, Rajahmundry and Kadapa in the southern Indian state and Jabalpur in the central state of the country.

Officials said these small airports, which have less number of flights, are at present being guarded by the state police and after a security audit was conducted at these facilities, it has been decided to bring them under the cover of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

"Airports at Vijaywada, Rajahmundry, Kadapa are expected to be brought under CISF security cover soon. One airport in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh too would be provided with the same security. Government orders will be issued soon," official sources said.

The force, at present, secures 59 civil airports in the country and is the mandated security agency under the Union Home Ministry for this task.

While the Vijaywada airport could well serve an increasing number of flights in future in the capital city area of new Andhra Pradesh, Rajahmundry and Kadapa act as important nodes of air connectivity in these areas both for civilian movement and that of government PSU flights.

The Jabalpur airport, officials said, connects close to a dozen cities in the central Indian state and more flights and chartered planes are expected to be operating from here in the coming days.

The CISF, after formal orders in this regard, will base its small contingents along with quick reaction team to ensure the over-all security of these facilities.

These airports are currently operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).