Shortage of CISF personnel hits security at city airport

Shortage of CISF personnel hits security at city airport


CHENNAI: Chennai airport has been identified as one of the most sensitive airports in India. While security agencies and government have been making claims about security arrangements being in place to ward off possible threats, CISF personnel deployed at Chennai airport are struggling to meet demands and working under tremendous presssure.

More than 40% of positions in CISF has remained vacant the past three years. The CISF contingent at Chennai airport has a sanctioned strength of 1,000 personnel, but only around 600 personnel are on duty currently. "We are forced to work continuously 12 hours a day. When voices are made about an administrative lapse, we were threatened and told that since we are a paramilitary force, we are supposed to work like this. Even those in the army do not work like we do - continuously for many hours - unless there is a war or insurgency. Overworking has been routine for us the past three years," a CISF staff member told The Times Of India.


Apart from overwork, CISF personnel are also deprived of leave. According to sources, whenever they apply for leave, applications are turned down, citing short of personnel, sources said. The prolonged stress and mental agony has resulted in CISF personnel on duty at the airport tending to be lethargic and, often, highly irritable. "Passengers are the victims. CISF personnel choose to vent their frustration on passengers during security check. They fail to be cordial.

No amount of courtesy and behaviour training will bring change unless the working hours of the personnel are regulated," a CISF oficial said. Though government is aware of the shortage of personnel, very little had been done to address the issue. "As far as manpower allocation is concerned, Chennai airport is the worst in the country. Shortage of manpower is pardonable for few months. But shortage three years means official apathy," the official added.

Airport sources agreed that shortage of CISF men was affecting proper security at the airport. "Vital points are secured always. However, they have to reduce strength at security check points. The problems are evident when you monitor the airport security," an airport official said. A senior CISF official in Chennai admitted that there was acute shortage of CISF personnel in Chennai airport.

"We had done a survey again, taking into account the enormous increase in flight operation over the past few years and the airport expansion. We are going to get one more terminal. So we had sent a proposal for allocation of additional strength. The proposal is pending with the ministry of home affairs for more than a year. The reason for the delay is not known to us," the official pointed out. The proposal had requested an allocation of around 1,200 CISF personnel for Chennai airport.

raveen.kumar8@timesgroup.com


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