Check in swiftly with new system
CISF to bring down security checking time to four minutes from eight minutes
Chennai: While the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is responsible for security at 59 civil airports in the country, is geared up to bring down security checking time to four minutes from eight minutes, air passengers urge the immigration and customs departments also to follow the CISF model.
The CISF has prepared a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for its personnel to frisk and identify genuine passengers and scan suspect baggage.
“Two months back we decided on a new SOP to cut the security check time for air passengers and also complete frisking in about 10 to 15 seconds per person,” said CISF spokesman Hemendra Singh. “We have planned to request airport operators for enough infrastructure, including space and equipment. We will also enhance the screening process, using Door Frame Metal Detectors,” he added.
Air Passengers’ Association of India (APAI) president D. Sudhakara Reddy said that the CISF had become passenger friendly now and even during peak hours things were moving quicker at security counters. “With an increase in awareness levels, even first-time passengers check in all metallic items and put mobiles and laptops in the tray for scanning,” he added.
However, Mr Reddy said that baggage continues to be a problem area at all airports. “Due to shortage of customs staff, the baggage doesn’t get loaded on to the conveyer belt. So it leads to more waiting time and delay in retrieval. We have received a few complaints in the recent past about passengers missing connecting flights because of this delay in baggage collection,” he added.
Furthermore, APAI secretary Hiren Shah said that the security agency should also appoint more personnel to keep all gates operational at the entrance.
“This morning, I reached Pune airport to catch the 5.55 am Indigo flight to Chennai. Out of two gates, only one was open. So, we were forced to stand outside it in a long queue. Making security checking quicker is fine, but we need to be able to enter for the checks to be carried out,” he added.