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CSIA remains sitting duck against terror attacks

The airport is guarded by 4,000 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel.

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The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), despite being heavily guarded, remains a sitting duck for attacks due to several loopholes.

The seriousness of the situation can be gauged from the fact that in February last year, a report prepared by Ministry of Home Affairs revealed that Mumbai and Juhu airports are among those that are vulnerable to terror attacks due to lack of alertness in intelligence agencies, inadequate equipment for security forces and poor contract management of security projects.

The airport is guarded by 4,000 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel. CSIA, which handles over 32.22 million passengers and 2,60,666 aircraft movement annually, is among the busiest airports in Asia, and therefore, constantly remains on the radar of terrorists. The airport officials expect the passenger movement to touch around 40 million by the end of this year.

However, several airport insiders dna spoke to said that there are a number of loopholes through which anti-social elements can sneak inside the airport and create havoc with life and properties. Nicholas Almeida, an activist, politician and union leader of airport workers, said: "The first and foremost loopholes are the huge sewage outlet pipes connecting the Mithi river. One can easily use them to get inside the airport premises," says Almeida.

"Similarly, the box-type gutter near the Cargo section of the airport which remains thinly manned is also seen as another security loophole," adds Almeida.

The authorities claim that the security threat is compounded by 276 acres of slums surrounding the airport land. The airplanes are at a striking distance of a bullet or a rocket launcher from certain places of these slums.

"There are hundreds of workers inside the airport who get police antecedent's certificate from other districts and hoodwink the security system. The police from other districts might not necessarily know the antecedents of a person in the absence of a centralised information sharing system," said an airport source. "Hence, many workers and loaders may exploit such a situation," he added.

 

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