Kolkata airport security: Curbs on visitors’ entry till August 20

KOLKATA: Visitors’ entry was banned at the Kolkata airport from Tuesday till August 20 following a security alert ahead of Independence Day, following repeated alerts from central security agencies.
The high alert has been issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and security has been bolstered at airports and other civil aviation installations across the country accordingly. As part of the enhanced security protocol, none other than passengers carrying air tickets, regular airport staff, airline and security personnel are now allowed inside the terminal building and issuance of all temporary passes — be it to any person accompanying a passenger or for any work inside — by the airport authorities are prevented during this period.
“Issuance of all temporary passes has been stopped as of now. All emergency passes need to be passed through the BCAS,” said a senior official at Kolkata airport.
The Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) also increased the deployment of armed personnel on the airport premises. “A three-tier security cover has been put in place. While CISF is tracking the movement of passengers through CCTV cameras inside the terminal along with random frisking, the area outside the terminal is being jointly scanned by CISF. Local cops have been made responsible for the security of the airport’s perimeter,” said another senior official of the airport.
According to CISF sources, there has been a 23% increase in CISF deployment along with at least 40% increase in that of local police inside and outside the airport. “More than 270 CISF officials are at work at any given time in three shifts. There has been an enhanced screening of passengers including 100% pat down search at pre-embarkation security check point along with enhanced random checks at the entry of the terminal building using dog squads,” said the official.
Vehicle parking by cops, politicians and VIPs in front of the terminal building — a perennial problem at the city airport — has been barred too while multiple naka checkpoints have come up on the road leading to the airport.
Armed jawans have also been posted on watchtowers and also on foot patrol through the day to keep strict vigil. The Quick Response Teams of local cops and CISF personnel have been put into operation outside the terminal building as well.
Passengers have also been asked not to carry any object prohibited within the airport and also stay cautious about their baggage as any bag or object, if found at any place in the airport lying unclaimed for 15 minutes, will be confiscated by security personnel immediately, said an airport official.
TOI had written on Sunday how CISF officials in charge of airport security along with officers of Bidhannagar City Police had started going around neighbourhoods adjacent to the airport, asking people not to fly drones, crackers or sky lanterns.