There have been 22 cases of theft of luggage of passengers at the IGI airport here in past six months despite implementation of various security measures.
K C Venugopal, Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, in a written reply in Lok Sabha, today said that "the number of passenger luggage theft cases registered at IGI is 22 and nine persons have been arrested in this connection."
He said strict surveillance was maintained to check any theft or pilferage from passenger's baggage.
The stolen items include laptops, i-pads, i-phones, gold jewelleries, diamond sets, uncut diamonds, US currency, bags, camera, suitcase among others.
Elaborating on security measures taken by Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to stop thefts, the Minister said that BCAS has issued various circulars for deployment of security staff for security of luggage, cargo, catering, aircraft as well as for establishing a unified control room for CCTV monitoring at the airport.
He said airline security staff were deployed in baggage are while loading and off loading.
"All the baggage trolleys are escorted from arrival aircraft to baggage break up and on departure from baggage make up area to aircraft. Surprise checks were also conducted by the airline security staff. Besides, entire baggage movement area and conveyor belt in under the CCTV and under the surveillance of CISF," he said.
He also said in wide bodied aircraft, all baggage were loaded into closed containers, which are sealed and escorted by security personnel, upto departure of plane and in case of narrow body aircraft, normal trolleys are used, escorted by security staff.
In reply to separate question, Venugopal said that Delhi airport has collected Rs 635.19 crore in 2009-10, Rs 673.89 crore in 2010-11, Rs 312.70 in 2011-12 and Rs 797.74 crore upto January 13 of fiscal 2012-13 as development fee from embarking domestic and international passengers.
While Mumbai airport has collected Rs 267.41 crore in 2009-10, Rs 319.50 in 2010-11, Rs 53.83 crore in 2011-12 and Rs 211.20 crore upto January 13 of fiscal 2012-13 as development fee.
