Article Posted on : - Dec 02, 2008

Vehicles move near the Marine lines road in Mumbai on Monday. PTI Photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): Top officials have reviewed security measures taken at all Indian airports across the country in the aftermath of last week’s deadly terror attacks in Mumbai.

The meeting, chaired by Civil Aviation Secretary M Madhavan Nambiar, reviewed the preparedness of “different layers” of the security and safety mechanism in airports as well as in the airspace.The top officials also identified certain “immediate steps” that were needed to be taken in case of an emergency situation, an official spokesperson said here.

Those who attended the meeting on Monday included Director General Civil Aviation Nasim Zaidi, top officials of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, CISF, Airports Authority of India and those from the Civil Aviation Ministry.

Nambiar, along with other top officials, earlier met IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major and discussed steps to improve coordination between the IAF and civil aviation authorities in air surveillance and other related areas.

The meeting came a day after an anonymous e-mail threatening to blow up the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport was received here. All major airports across the country, especially those in the western region, have been on high alert and extra vigil is being maintained for the past few days following the terror strikes.

Extra surveillance has been mounted in most of the airports, with additional CISF and police personnel being deployed to keep an eye around the terminal as well as the perimeter.

Sniffer dogs have been deployed in some airports, while watchers in plainclothes have also been put on the job. Sky Marshals were being put on planes flying on sensitive routes, ministry officials said. Steps have been taken to depute additional manpower for 24-hour monitoring of close circuit TVs (CCTVs) in and around the airport terminal buildings, they said, adding that at certain airports, more CCTVs were being fitted.

Additional barricading was being done along entry points of the airports to thoroughly check incoming vehicles while armed security personnel were also being deployed at vantage points, they said.

The CISF has been instructed to carry out hundred per cent checking of both check-in and hand baggage’s, besides personal checking, they said and added that all emergency equipment have also been put on alert.

Since the terror attacks in Mumbai, a series of meetings have been held among officials of the CISF, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Civil Aviation Ministry.

The officials said that detailed measures have been decided upon and implemented. A Disaster Management Group has also been kept on stand-by for a quick response to any kind of emergency.