Date:30/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/30/stories/2006083008911200.htm

National

Curbs eased for purchases at airport shops

Special Correspondent

No racial or any other profiling of passengers being done, says Government

NEW DELHI: Nearly 20 days after tight security measures were enforced at airports in the aftermath of the foiled terror plot in the U.K. prohibiting passengers from carrying liquids, gels, pastes on board, the Civil Aviation Ministry on Tuesday announced relaxation in the procedure for making purchases at duty free shops at airports in the country.

Civil Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad said passengers would now be allowed to make purchases before their departure at duty free shops located outside the security hold area but the items will not be handed over to the passenger at the shops. The items, kept in an identifiable bag, will be delivered at the aircraft boarding point.

Mr. Prasad said it would be the responsibility of the duty free shop owner to get the bag containing the sold items checked at the security points and have these delivered to the passenger. The new procedure will come into effect from midnight of September 1.

He said that duty free items would be sold under proper cash receipt incorporating the name of the passenger, seat number and the name of the airline. The shop owner would ensure that no prohibited or dangerous goods are kept or sold. He would also ensure that security-vetted employees are kept on the rolls for delivering the sold items to the passenger.

He said the shops could refuse to sell items about 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of the flight as it would need time to get the sold items checked and delivered. The relaxation was being allowed after a detailed review carried out by security agencies such as the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The review was prompted by the huge losses the shops were making. Mr. Prasad said the public sector Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) was reportedly incurring a loss of Rs. 10 lakh daily in the post-August 11 scenario banning passengers from carrying liquids, gels, pastes on board. Primarily, the duty free shops in the departure terminal were badly hit as passengers could not make purchases and carry them inside the aircraft.

However, all other security measures, including the ban on carrying liquids, pastes and gels in hand baggage, would continue till another review is undertaken.

Mr. Prasad denied that any racial or other profiling of passengers was being done but said a pilot project of giving Advanced Passenger Information System about incoming international passengers had been put in place from July at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.