The face of airport security in the country is set to undergo a massive overhaul once a foolproof security mechanism planned by the government and security agencies.
A confidential home ministry note accessed by this newspaper reveals that initially the new security plan will be implemented at the country’s six busiest airports — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
A recent meeting of top officials from intelligence agencies and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security had pointed to gaping security loopholes at these airports.
The meeting assumes significance as it came in the backdrop of a specific security alert that terror groups were planning to target airlines using 'body bombs'.
According to the note no 'physical checks' are done at the approach roads leading to airport with the CISF merely putting up barricades thus providing easy access to people and vehicles up to the Terminal buildings.
Shockingly, it further states a passenger merely on basis of an airlines ticket and a photo ID, like a PAN card or a voter ID, can cover up to 40 per cent of the terminal building before being screened for the first time.
“By the time the passenger and the hand baggage reach the security check they have already covered 40 per cent of the airport. This way even an armed terrorist can enter the airport and reach till security check causing considerable damage,” the note adds.
Sources said concerns were also raised about the possible use of fake photo IDs by terrorist posing as passengers to gain access to the airport.