Govt to strengthen aviation security, increases manpower at BCAS

The move comes at a time when carriers are expanding their fleet to meet rising passenger traffic

The government is in the process of hiring more personnel to strengthen civil aviation security, in view of an increased threat perception and rising untoward incidents globally.

The proposal for more people at the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), nodal security agency for the aviation sector, also comes at a time when carriers are expanding their fleet to meet rising passenger traffic.

Acknowledging BCAS was "badly understaffed" and constrained in carrying out its functions, Civil Aviation Secretary V Somasundaran said  on Tuesday there was a proposal to increase head count at the agency.

Noting its responsibilities were increasing in the wake of rise in both passenger and cargo traffic, Somasundaran said, "Fifteen new airports are expected to come up in the next two to four years. Also, passenger traffic has shown healthy growth in the last one to one and a half years."

He said that civil aviation security was a critical issues, especially since the country has porous borders, and also referred to a recent incident at the Mumbai airport where a passenger jumped out of an aircraft after landing.

Citing the daily reports provided by CISF, Somasundaran said there are "several problem areas" in respect to security.

CISF looks after security at over 55 airports.