Airports owe Rs 4707.76 Cr to CISF for security services: Parliamentary panel report
According to the latest Parliamentary panel report, airports owe a colossal amount of Rs 4707.76 to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for providing security services. The security services by CISF include 16 joint venture facilities accounting for 64% of the unpaid balance.
The CISF is present and provides security in 66 airports across the nation of which 50 are controlled by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and 16 joint ventures; private players and AAI are partners in this venture.
The airports across the country where CISF is deployed for security services, 23 airports are categorized as hyper-sensitive and 38 as sensitive. Only five airports are categorized as ‘normal’.
In 2019, the Ministry of Civil Aviation established the "National Aviation Security Fee Trust" (NASFT) to collect fees from joint ventures and/or AAI for deployment costs. The Trust is now centrally paying the money owed to CISF after being ordered to do so on July 1 of this year.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture was informed that 50 airports operated by AAI owe the CISF Rs. 1,667.07 crore. As of November 2022, the joint venture airports alone owe Rs 3,040.68 crore, or 64% of the entire debt.
The report ‘Development of Greenfield and Brownfield Airports and Issues Pertaining to Civil Enclaves in Defence Airports’ stated, “The committee notes the huge amount of outstanding dues which are payable to the CISF by the NASFT, especially the dues of the 16 joint venture airports and desires to know the reasons for the same.”
The report was submitted on July 24, and expressed that NASFT would quickly pay its debts so that the CISF could use the newest security technology and enough staff to guarantee perfect security at airports.
The Association of Private Airport Operators, according to the panel, advised them that in order to achieve international standards and prepare for future problems, security services must use contemporary technology and make use of artificial intelligence (AI).
The APAO recommended that in addition to reviewing the immigration and security procedures, technology should be used to shorten the processing time. They suggested that full-body scanners and 3D X-Ray scanners be expanded.
The panel advised the Ministry to consider the recommendations and make sure that the newest technology is used at all airports for both security and passenger convenience.
