A red alert has been sounded at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), Bhubaneswar for 10 days following terror threat at the New Delhi Airport.
“The red alert has been sounded across airports in the country in view of the terror threat perception due to the upcoming Independence Day celebrations. We are following instructions issued by the top authorities,” said Pravat Ranjan Beuria, Director of BPIA in Bhubaneswar.
He said the alert will remain in force between August 10 and 20. A standard operating procedure (SOP) has been issued for ensuring proper surveillance at the airport.
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“Security has been tightened at the city airport in view of the upcoming Independence Day. Entry of visitors has been restricted at the airport. Meet and greet will not be allowed and visitors’ passes will not be issued. Only travellers with valid tickets will be allowed inside the airport,” said Beuria.
“The passengers may face some inconvenience. However, we will try to minimise it and also ensure that we maintain proper security at the airport,” he added.
Elaborating about the security measures, Beuria said, “We have sought the help of the State police. The police will conduct surveillance at all our access points. They will check all vehicles coming to the airport premises. Earlier, checking of passengers from boarding gates to aircraft was being conducted randomly. Now the procedure will be extended to all.”
A couple of days back, an anonymous email received by the Delhi Police cautioning about terrorist outfit Al Qaeda planning to attack Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi had sent security apparatus at the busy airport in the National Capital to a tizzy. Nevertheless, the increase in the activities of Taliban in Afghanistan has necessitated the security establishment in India to recalibrate its anti-sabotage measures in the country.