CISF men & women on all-week duty at airport

Facing a 20 per cent shortage in staff strength, all the 1,900-odd Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel in charge of security at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport are on duty all week. The shortage comes amid a fresh alert from intelligence agencies to step up security at all Indian airports, including Mumbai, because of reports that Pakistan-based militants could try to hijack an aircraft. Officials say the immediate requirement is 400 more personnel, but till those hands arrive, the CISF—apart from utilising most of its 28 per cent reserve force for daily operational requirements—has come up with an ingenious plan to bridge the gap; an additional shift, besides a seven-day week for everyone. Although the impact was felt especially in the wake of 7/11, "the situation has been accentuated by the commissioning of the new security hold area at terminal 1-B", says CISF Senior Commandant Sanjay Prakash. The reason; the new security hold spread over 10,000 sq metre, commissioned by Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) on October 20, meant 112 CISF personnel would be required to man the additional security points.

However, there has been no recruitment. Thus, to bridge the gap, a new shift was created to cater to "rush-hour demand". "Apart from the normal two 12-hour shifts, we have created a team that works between 5 am-8 am and 5 pm-8 pm, the peak periods. This has been done by pulling out one or two people from various points around the airport. Therefore, the manpower on duty doubles during this period, ensuring operations are not hampered," explains Prakash. Now, a fresh manpower assessment is underway. Estimates suggest an additional force of 1,000 people will be required by 2010, keeping in mind the airport upgradation. And there is good news already. The requisition made for the 112 personnel for the new security hold has been cleared, says Prakash. These men and women should be deployed by next week. About the extra work, a jawan says: "It’s our duty, we don’t mind it." He admits he doesn’t remember the last time he had a day off, but quickly adds: "Irrespective of everything, there is satisfaction in work."

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