Security issues for the Juhu airport don’t seem to end. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) is now keen on getting security from the Maharashtra police, after the option to source personnel from the Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR) was put on hold.
Sources in the Juhu airport said that the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) is keen on getting security from the Maharashtra police and has been communicating with senior state government officials for the same.
“The MoCA officially communicated the request to Maharashtra chief secretary J.K. Banthia a few days ago. Nothing has been confirmed at the moment, until the meeting between MoCA officials and the Maharashtra government takes place,” said a reliable source from the AAI.
MoCA officials are reported to have requested around 40 men to secure the 400 acre-premises. Juhu airport director M. Yadgiri confirmed the development.
He, however, refused to comment about the status of discussions with the DGR. DGR is a central agency that rehabilitates former military personnel in security related professions.
The unsecured airport first ruled out security from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) after prolonged discussions with the agency for seven months.
The hurdle here was over inability to pay for the accommodation of some of the married and bachelor CISF officers.
The proposed security cover was then scaled down to around 80 from 174, before finally being scrapped by the CISF.
The AAI then started considering the DGR, but sources said the alternative hasn’t been completely ruled out. Despite repeated attempts, Mr Banthia remained unavailable for comment.