New Delhi : Gaps in security at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi may lead to “disaster” any time, a parliamentary panel report observed on Monday.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, in its report on ‘Issues related to Security at Airports in India’, said it was “appalled” to see the existing level of interface between DIAL and Delhi Police.
The Delhi Police, in its reply to the IGIA, had listed a slew of issues in the grey area, and said that they needed bullet-proof vehicles, and that the CCTV camera coverage was inadequate.
They also said that the old building of a police station at the domestic airport was acquired and demolished by the DIAL and no new land was allotted, while a five-storeyed new building has been erected at the spot but only a portion of the ground floor has been given for the police station and ACP/Sub-Div office which is insufficient for the smooth functioning of the force.
They noted that no space has been allotted for the Aerocity police post, rent was levied by DIAL for the domestic police station building and the land allocated for the T-3 police station, and that the electricity charges are significantly higher compared to BSES rates.
The police also noted that the jungle area around T-3 is vulnerable from the security point of view while private land of DIAL has neither boundary, fencing nor is it protected by guards and can thus be used by anti-social elements.
DIAL was asked to erect all-weather ‘Machans’ in the said area and no decision has been taken as yet, and clearing of shrubs and bushes is not done on a regular basis.
Police listed three “vulnerable villages” – Mahipalpur/Rangpuri, Shahbad Mohamadpur and Mehram Nagar adjoining IGI Airport – as security threats and said watch towers at 300 metres distance are required.
“The committee was appalled to see the existing interface between the Delhi Police and DIAL in respect of security related issues at the Delhi International Airport,” said the report.
“The committee recommends that the ministry of home affairs may take immediate decision in those matters as the Delhi Police is under that ministry, discharging sovereign function of maintenance of security in and around the IGIA,” the report added.
