Srinagar, Sept 1: Fresh controversy has surrounded the operation of commercial flights from the Awantipora Airbase—25 kms from here.
While the airliners’ security has brought a central security agency and the Airports Authority of India at loggerheads with each other, at least three commercial airlines have been asked not to operate till further orders.
The controversy erupted a day after it was decided that the passenger security and baggage check would take place at the Srinagar International Airport only following which the passengers shall be transported in specific buses for boarding at the Awantipora aerodrome.
Sources said a team of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), manning the airliners’ security, today held a meeting with the Srinagar-based officials of the Airports Authority of India, seeking security check at both the Srinagar and Awantipora aerodromes “to avoid any trouble.” But, they said, the Airports Authority of India turned down the suggestion on the ground that there was no fun of going for the security check at two places.
Sources said the BCAS officials asserted that they can’t “take a chance” as there was no guarantee that there won’t be a “security breach” on way
from the Srinagar International Airport to the Awantipora airstrip, though the state government has assured that the passengers and baggage shall be transported under “tight security.”
While the BCAS has raised its concerns, the AAI has asserted that it lacked additional baggage checking machines and that it would be too cumbersome to transport them to the Awantipora airbase.

ALL IS WELL: GOVT
When contacted, the principal secretary, Home Department, B R Sharma admitted that the BCAS has raised some concerns with the state government pertaining to the airliners’ security. “They have raised their concerns with us and we are taking care of that. It is not possible to go for security check at two places, but we are finding an alternate to that,” he told Greater Kashmir.
Shama said the state government was ready to facilitate the passenger travel. “We have made all the arrangements, though they may not be at par with what we have at the Srinagar International Airport. But we will have to bear with it,” he said.

‘RESTRICTIONS’ ON AIRLINES
While controversy hovers over this security issue, sources said it is still unclear which aircrafts shall operate to and from Awantipora. “As per our reports, SpiceJet has been asked to operate from September 5, GoAir from September 3 and Air India for just three days from September 3,” they said, adding the rest of the airlines-Jet airways, Kingfisher and Indigo—have been asked not to operate till further orders.
“The Ministry of Civil Aviation has asked the Jet airways, Kingfisher and Indigo airlines not to operate till 6 September,” the source said.
Asked why the three airlines had been asked not to operate so far, B R Sharma said, “I am not aware of that. But the number of aircraft flying would depend on the traffic load.”

Lastupdate on : Wed, 1 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 1 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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