Question : RESTRUCTURING OF BCAS



(a) whether the Government proposes to review the aviation security arrangements made at airports and also to restructure the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to make it more effective;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the threat perception in the aviation sector has further increased in the past few months;

(d) if so, the details in this regard; and

(e) the steps taken to provide adequate security at the airports?

Answer given by the minister

- MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION( SHRI PRAFUL PATEL )

(a) & (b): At all airports in the country, adequate security arrangements are in force according to the guidelines of Annexure 17 of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and India`s National Civil Aviation Security Programme. As a part of the ongoing process of strengthening of aviation security, a proposal for restructuring of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is at preliminary stage.

(c) to (e): No specific feedback has been received from the concerned intelligence agencies. However, to further strengthen security arrangements at airports the Government has taken following steps:-

(i) Time bound deployment of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at all operational airports in the country.

(ii) Deployment of Quick Reaction Teams at major airports.

(iii) Introduction of Ladder point frisking whenever and whereever necessary.

(iv) Deployment of Sky Marshals on all domestic scheduled flights of Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Air Sahara on random basis.

(v) Regular monitoring of security arrangement through inspections and dummy checks.

(vi) Installation of Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) at important airports.

(vii) Strengthening of Training of security personnel.