The number of theft cases reported at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here rose to 67 last year compared to only 14 in 2013, the government informed the Rajya Sabha today.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma, in a written reply, said that 67 theft cases were reported at the IGI Airport in 2014 compared to 14 in 2013.
In 2012, 24 theft cases were reported at the airport while in the first three months of this year, their number stood at 19, the minister said.
"While the number of theft cases reported at the IGI Airport had declined in 2013, it reported an increase in the subsequent year. Further, during the initial five months of 2014, only 18 cases were reported at this airport.
"There is no marked increase in the number of cases reported in the current year in comparison with the number of cases reported during the corresponding period in 2014," Sharma said.
He was responding to a question on whether it is a fact that instances of baggage theft at the IGI Airport are increasing.
According to the minister, various measures, including sharing list of suspects with all concerned agencies, are done to prevent thefts at airports.
Ground handling staff are frisked while leaving airport, and they are banned from using cell phone in the air side. Besides, their photo identity cards are deposited at the airport after completion of their shifts, Sharma said.
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) help desk counters, among others, have been set up at the airports for receipt of complaint of thefts from the passengers, he said.
To another query, Sharma said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is in the process of framing operational guidelines for civil use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).
"As of now, DGCA has restricted civil use of drones, UAS," he said in a separate written reply.
Sharma noted that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has not issued any standards and recommended practices for operation of civil UAS so far.
"However, DGCA has initiated the process of framing operational guidelines for civil use of UAS," he added.
