Soon, CISF may handle security of all airports

NEW DELHI: Acknowledging the need to upgrade airport security in view of a heightened threat of terror attacks, the home ministry and civil aviation ministry on Thursday brainstormed on deploying CISF which now handles the security of 59 airports at all 98 airports in the country in a phased manner.

At the airport security review meeting chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh and attended by Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju here, the need to prepare CISF for a larger role in airport security was stressed.

The upgradation would be in the wake of CISF pointing to fears of a "direct, bold attack at airports from the city area" as well as terror strikes at Brussels and Istanbul airports in the recent past.

"The need to raise more CISF battalions as well as technological advancements such as perimeter intrusion detection system and cyber security systems at airports was underlined. Implementation of additional security measures was sought... (including) deployment of more quick reaction teams," said a senior home ministry officer.

The Home Ministry, keen to review the current system where security of an airport is determined by the ability of airport operator to pay, wants the feasibility of central funding of all airport security operations, examined. At the meeting, the civil aviation ministry also sought a policy to handle drones.