CHENNAI: Though it stands to reason that Chennai’s Anna International Airport is easily the most heavily guarded ‘transport terminus’, the security cover has certainly seen a sharp increase after the bomb blast at the Delhi High Court complex last week. Not only are there visibly more police personnel providing better security cover, passengers and regulars are being strictly regulated at alighting points outside the arrival/departure areas. “We have had a series of meetings and it has been decided to provide heightened security cover from now on, not just for the emergency,” states E P Hareendranath, Airport Director - AAI.Earlier, having a seat at the base of the many pillars that support the upcoming expansion area of the airport, used to be a common sight. Now, to the consternation of most people waiting to receive arriving passengers, they are being told point blank by the cops to “either use the inadequate seating area provided or wait in the parking lot,” as one waiting relative grouses.Another long-pending security demand has been spurred on by this surge of security. The Chennai International Airport complex will finally have the much needed closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cover, outside the terminal and extending up to the periphery, Hareendranath confirmed. “We are working fast and hopefully the advanced surveillance system (CCTV) will be in place within another month,” he adds.For now, the Airport Police are doing their bit to ensure there is an amount of surveillance by positioning their mobile surveillance vehicles at strategic points at the transit bays. A police source, in fact, revealed that not only was the surveillance higher, the number of security personnel being used is “almost as high as when a VVIP arrives”.While the CISF guards have increased security at all the gates that lead into the airport, including the cargo entry and VVIP gates, they have begun aiding the security outside the terminal as well, reveals Hareendranath.“Small teams are being deployed every day in plain clothes to keep watch on the passengers from within their midst,” he said. The cover has seen a visible increase particularly after a 13-year-old entered the terminal and gave chase for quite a while, last month. While such incidents have occurred in the past, once the expansion is complete by January and all security features are in place, the security gaps would hopefully be plugged, claims a CISF official.While people could wait freely anywhere between the parking bays to the arrival waiting area with bags earlier, in recent times, cops on duty have begun regarding anyone with a bag with mild suspicion. “We keep asking them to move or ask what flight’s passengers they are waiting to receive, to keep a check on stationary risks,” explains a police constable on duty. “This has brought plenty of curses, but we cannot take the risk of leaving people with bags unchecked, especially now,” he grins. Well said.
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