Measures to beef up airport security

By T. S. Shankar

CHENNAI, OCT. 4. A special security committee meeting held at the Kamaraj Domestic Terminal here today decided to take a series of measures to tone up security at the airport.

The `ladder point' checks would be tightened by all airline operators and adequate ground staff posted to strictly enforce it. Stringent security measures would be introduced by foreign airlines. One of the `project work area points' near the Anna International Terminal would be brought under the `operational area', as the `intruder' had reportedly gained entry into sterile zone of the AIT from there.

The meeting, convened by International Airports Division of the Airports Authority of India, assumed significance in view of the last night's hijack drama involving an Alliance Air Boeing-737 flight between Mumbai and New Delhi.

The Central and State security agencies were told to beef up security machinery. The state airport security police manning all vital installations, access points and periphery of the airport were clearly told to gear up the machinery.

Three days have been given to bring the `unmanned access point' near the AIT, through which the intruder had reportedly gained entry, under the `operational area surveillance zone'.

Besides top brass of the IAD-AAI, senior officials of the Central Intelligence Bureau, the state airport security police and special VIP security personnel took part in the one- and-a-half- hour meeting.

Meanwhile, the armed and well trained Indo-Tibetan Border Protection Force, which has already been positioned at the Chennai airport, is patrolling on and around the airport complex. Armed police personnel are deployed right at the GST road entry and exit points of the airport complex.

The police sources said `additional companies' of the Tamil Nadu Special Police had been deployed at the airport. Additional guards had been posted in sensitive areas and existing guards strengthened. The police authorities at the airport were now better placed with regard to personnel strength for security purposes, the sources added.

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Section  : Southern States
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