The Hindu : Airport security reviewed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 20, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Airport security reviewed

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 19. The Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi, Vijai Kapoor, today held a meeting with the Transport Minister, Haroon Yusuf, the Chief Secretary, Shailja Chandra, and senior officers of the Delhi police, the Airports Authority of India and the Central Industrial Security Force, to review security arrangements for passengers availing of taxi services from the airports in the wake of the gruesome murder of an Australian national this past Wednesday.

Expressing anguish over the incident, Mr. Kapoor emphasised the need to make the transportation system from the airports to the city safe, convenient and dependable. He said though the Delhi police did a good job by solving the case within hours after commission of crime, deficiencies in the system needed to be identified and removed.

Mr. Kapoor said from now onwards, no taxi would be permitted to operate from the airport except through the pre-paid system. All taxi operators would have to follow the pre-paid system and adhere to the procedure laid down by the traffic police. During the meeting, it has been decided that adequate number of counters would be provided to avoid long queues.

No individual would be allowed to drive the taxi after April 30, 2004, unless they secure a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) badge from the Transport Department, which would also open a counter at the airports for this purpose.

The badge would be issued only after a careful and thorough verification of the antecedents of the applicants by the police. Mr. Kapoor said stringent action would be taken against touts and middlemen operating in and around the airport.

While a terminal would be created at Connaught Place to facilitate safe and easy transit from the airport, the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) would start a shuttle bus service between the airport and the terminal. Prominent hotels would be encouraged to run their own shuttle services and further steps would be taken for early initiation of radio-cabs across the city.

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