NEW DELHI: Kochi airport has given the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) a thumbs-up for ensuring multi-layered security on its premises and maintaining a cordial relationship with all stakeholders.
But the National Security Guard (NSG), the elite counter- terrorism force, has questioned the professional competence of the paramilitary force responsible for security at 59 airports across the country.
Express has accessed the internal stakeholder survey conducted over seven days at eight airports — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Guwahati. Cochin airport has given the CISF the highest rating of 4.93 on a scale of 5 while Guwahati airport has given it the lowest rating of 4.39. The NSG has given it 4.6 out of 5 for professional competence.
A total 11 stakeholders participated in the survey — airport operators, airline operators, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Bureau of Immigration, Customs, ground handling agencies, concessionaires, regulated agents of cargo area, catering agencies, NSG (Delhi and Bombay) and the state police.
The CISF, which handles security screening in the airport terminal, had picked up a sample size of 960, including 200 each at Delhi and Mumbai airports, 100 each at Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad airports and 80 each at Kochi and Guwahati airports.
The stakeholders were asked to rate the professional competence of the CISF at the airports, its co-ordination and inter-personal relations with stakeholders as well as the courtesy, helpfulness and respectfulness of its members.
“The response to this survey was very encouraging — 80.3 per cent stakeholders graded CISF as excellent, 15.9 per cent stakeholders graded CISF as very good, 03.6 per cent stakeholders graded CISF as good, 0.2 per cent stake holders graded CISF as average. Bangalore and Mumbai airports secured the second and third positions with overall ratings of 4.91 and 4.90 respectively,” the survey report said.
But the NSG is not confident about the CISF’s professional competence at Delhi and Mumbai airports. This would mean that the NSG is questioning the CISF’s ability to prevent hijackings and terrorist attacks. The NSG has also given the CISF a rating of 4.4 on interpersonal relations with stakeholders. Among the stakeholders, catering agencies have given the CISF the highest rating of 4.95 for professional competence while airline operators have given it a 4.69 rating.
Chennai airport has given the CISF the second lowest rating of 4.6. It has given the force only 4.48 on courtesy and helpfulness.
“CISF is providing security to major and sensitive airports... Stakeholders have said that they maintain excellent and cordial relationship with CISF... The stakeholders have also given some suggestions, which will be analysed and suitable measures will be taken,” the report said.
