CISF to hire 35,000 personnel to boost security at airports

No security stamp on cabin baggage tags from Thursday

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is hiring manpower and proposing a cap of single cabin bag per passenger to improve security and reduce congestion at airports.

CISF director general O P Singh on Wednesday said the government has approved the increase in staff strength from 145,000 to 180,000 and a large chunk of extra 35,000 personnel will be deployed at airports. The agency guards airports and vital public sector installations for a fee.

Currently, around 28,000 personnel are in charge of security at 59 airports. Additionally, the government plans to bring other airports under CISF cover too due to terror threats.

CISF is doing away with the security stamp on cabin baggage tags at six airports from Thursday, Singh said. He added that CISF has also suggested a cap of single cabin bag per passenger. This has been proposed with a view to ease congestion at security counters at airports and increase passenger convenience. However, a final decision is yet to be taken in this regard.

"We are discussing it with airlines," Singh stated on Wednesday. He added that the proposal may be implemented in due course.

At present a passenger is allowed single bag weighing 7-10 kilogrammes inside the cabin. Additionally, passengers are also permitted to carry a laptop bag or purse (for women) but the rules and entitlements vary from airlines. However, these norms are not strictly followed and passengers take more than a single piece of luggage inside the cabin. Carrying extra luggage is increasing CISF personnel workload and increasing the congestion at counters.