Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which handles the security at airports, has decided to do away with stamping of baggage tag on trial basis at six airports from tomorrow.
"We have taken a conscious decision of doing away with the process of stamping hand bag tags from tomorrow. We have this system of stamping boarding pass and hand baggages (since 1992). This is an unique system only in India," Director General of CISF O P Singh told reporters here.
"Aviation sector is expanding and we are set to become the third largest in aviation by 2020 and may be the largest in 2030. So in order to make it more hassle free and convenient for passengers and without compromising on security, we will have a trial run for a week or ten days, at six metro airports and Ahmedabad," Singh said.
The six metro airports are Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
Singh, who was in the city for the first time after becoming CISF DG, said, "If the experiment is successful, we go in for the second phase and do away with the system of stamping boarding pass as well."
"We are protecting vital installations whether it is shipping sector or coal sector or aviation. Only yesterday the government has sanctioned 35,000 more force for the agency," he said, adding, two new battalions have also been sanctioned by the government.
The official said CISF is undertaking various steps to make airport security full proof and one such step is installation of full body scanner at Delhi airport.
"We have installed a full body scanner at Delhi airport. However, since there can be questions related to privacy we are doing it on a voluntary basis. Over 3000 people have been subjected to the full body scan as of now," he said.
"You don't have to go through exhaustive check it just takes four seconds to scan the body. This is a parameter of international security standards," the DG added.
"One issue that we have deliberated upon, but haven't come to conclusion is implementation of one person one hand baggage rule. I am not committing, but in due course of time we may have to go for that, looking at the volume of traffic that airport handles," he explained.
Singh said they also provide service to eight private sectors and have received over Rs 132 crore for services provided to them.
"Right now, we giving security to eight private sector undertakings, including Reliance and Infosys. We have got over Rs 132 crore for services provided to them," he said.
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