Security at IGI: Should you be worried?

NEW DELHI: Days after the Central Industrial Security Force sought recovery of Rs 655.4 crore from Delhi International Airport Private Limited for deployment of its personnel at IGI, the latter's reply -expressing inability to pay up -could leave flyers to and from Delhi feeling very vulnerable. The cost of ensuring safety of aircraft and passengers at IGI comes to around Rs 1 crore daily .

In a letter to CISF chief O P Singh, DIAL CEO I P Rao recently wrote: “The deficit situation (of funds meant for security) has worsened to such an extent that it has become extremely difficult now for us to carry on day-today security-related operation(s) at DIAL.... In case the deficit continues to build up like this on a month-onmonth basis, we shall not be able to meet even the mandatory expenditure to maintain security at the airport.“

On June 30, the shortage of funds amounted to Rs 532.5 crore (excluding interest on delayed payment of Rs 191.45 crore charged by CISF) to pay the outstanding security-related liabilities, which is further increasing by Rs 5-7 crore per month, the airport operators says.

In 2006, the aviation ministry had allowed DIAL to charge Rs 130 from each departing flyer as passenger security fee (PSF) to meet expenses of this head.

“While the receipt conti nue to be Rs 130 per departing passenger since the last 16 years, PSF expenses has increased substantially on account of periodic wage revision of CISF salary , allowances, perks etc.... receipts in last 10 years increased by 171.32% while expenditure has exponentially gone up by 706.68%, leaving a huge gap, resulting in deficit of Rs 545.33 crore at the end of 10 years, post privatisation of IGI Airport (sic),“ Rao's letter reads.

“Total CISF deployment expenses, which contribute expenses, which contribute 88.82% of total expenses, have increased drastically by more than 618% in last 10 years from Rs 46.80 crore in 2006-07 to Rs 335.80 croresin 2016-17,“ it adds. DIAL has put the onus on the government to provide security at IGI and asked CISF to raise the issue of its dues with the home, finance and aviation ministries.

“Security being a sovereign function taken care by the government of India, it would be most fair and reasonable that the deficit for the past, as well as future, is taken care of by the government of India... we once again reiterate that DIAL is neither responsible nor accountable for delaynon-payment of CISF dues...“Rao adds.