This story is from April 25, 2016

Now, vehicles can ply up to airport terminal

Passenger’s Protest Makes CISF Relax Rule
Now, vehicles can ply up to airport terminal
Nagpur: After a passenger raised his voice, restrictions on the movement of vehicles imposed at the city airport citing security reasons have been removed last week.
Till three days ago, passenger vehicles were stopped near the parking lot and the occupants had to walk to the terminal. The vehicles had to be parked, as the pick and drop facility was closed for over three months.
Though the restrictions were imposed following an alert after the Pathankot attack in January, it was extended further. The passengers had to walk over 100 meters to reach the terminal and scorching heat has made it an ordeal. There was similar bar at the arrival terminal with travellers having to reach the parking area on foot.
Officials of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), in-charge of airport security, said there was threat perception due to blocking of the passage near the terminal due to presence of vehicles. This was also pointed out by intelligence agencies.
Last week, Vinod Tiwari, a lawyer travelling to Delhi in an afternoon flight, took up the matter with the airport management. In a letter to the airport director, Tiwari pointed out that the restrictions lead to an ordeal in the summers especially if senior citizens are travelling. In the event of the curbs due to security reasons, the airport management should have at least constructed a shed till the terminal. He also pointed out that there is no other airport in the country where such restrictions are imposed.
“I was travelling on April 19. On facing inconvenience, I wrote a letter to the airport director. As there was no change even when after I returned on April 22, I met the director personally and finally the barricades were lifted,” he said. Airport sources confirmed that the barricades were lifted soon after the matter was taken up by him.
“It was not easy to convince the airport officials and only after a strong argument that they agreed. I questioned the very authority under which the movement of passenger vehicles could be restricted,” he said.

The matter had to be taken up with higher officials in the state government, as the Maharasthra government also has a stake in Mihan India Limited (MIL), which manages the airport, claimed Tiwari.
“The ‘rule’ being implemented appeared to indirectly benefit the parking operator as vehicles had to be invariably parked. The restrictions were imposed in the name of VIP movements, but it was seen that leaders who do not have an official VIP tag could use their influence and reach the terminal directly,” Tiwari said.
A senior CISF official said that the restrictions have been lifted temporarily. It was relaxed after considering the summer heat and the passengers’ convenience, said the source.
“It began with a security alert in January when the Pathankot attack took place. Even after the alert ended a month later, we requested the local police to continue with the restrictions as there were inputs from the agencies that passengers clogging the area with their vehicles was a security threat. There have been times when people have locked their vehicles at the passage near the terminal and gone to see off the passenger. Such vehicles can be a potential threat,” said a senior CISF officials.
“The area is purely for pick and drop and no vehicle needs to stay beyond 3-4 minutes at the passage. If the passengers continue to flout the rules, the restrictions will be imposed again,” said the official. The MIL has already begun work to construct a shade from the parking area till the terminal, added a source.
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