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`Ministry working on better airport security'

Ashwini Phadnis

NEW DELHI, Jan. 22

THE Ministry of Civil Aviation is examining several proposals to ensure that security at airports is further tightened without any additional financial burden falling on either the passengers or the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Minister for Ci vil Aviation, Mr Sharad Yadav, has said.

``We are looking at how we can balance beefing up security without burning a hole in the profitability of AAI. One thing is clear. Whatever decision we take, we will try and ensure that neither the profitability of AAI is affected nor is the passenger un duly burdened,'' Mr Yadav told Business Line.

Aviation security in the country is looked after by the State police, Central Industrial Security Force, the airlines, and AAI, while the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security is supposed to coordinate, monitor, inspect and train personnel in civil aviation security matters.

While refusing to say whether the Government was considering imposing an additional fee on air tickets to fund the cost of beefing up security, Mr Yadav did say that the Ministry would shortly take up the issue of beefing up security at the airports with the State Governments.

Senior Ministry officials said that the problem had been complicated as several airports were non-profitable. Yet providing adequate security at these airfields was also important. ``AAI handles airports at Kargil, the North-East and Port Blair which are among some of the airports which though not profitable, are important. We will have to ensure that the profits which AAI earns from services provided at the other airports is not affected by beefing up security,'' officials said.

Currently, the security at 19 key airports has been entrusted with the Central Industrial Security Force and there is also a move to have a special aviation security force at the airports, fully equipped with special training and hi-tech equipment.

Security issues came to the forefront again in December 1999, when a scheduled Indian Airlines aircraft flying between Kathmandu and Delhi was hijacked.