NEW DELHI: With India in Parliamentary election season, aviation authorities have tightened security at airports to check carriage of cash and unauthorised arms. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has introduced special checks on flights from uncontrolled, remote, unserved, airstrips, aerodromes, helipads, private airstrips and waterdromes. Surprise inspections will be carried out at airports to check compliance of these instructions.
The aviation ministry said these steps have been taken “in wake of announcement of model code of conduct for the forthcoming General Elections 2019.” These include: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Airports Authority of India and Air Traffic Control (ATC) shall inform state police, BCAS and Income Tax department about these flights in advance. “ATC shall share records of not only scheduled commercial flights but also private aircrafts or helicopters to the chief electoral officer (CEO) of the state and the DEO of the district, in which the airport is located, about the travel plan of chartered aircrafts or helicopters as early as possible, preferably half an hour in advance,” a statement by aviation ministry said.
