Srinagar, Sept 2: The turbulence over the operation of flights from the Awantipora airport—25 kms from here—finally ended on Thursday, with a central security agency, Airports Authority of India and the Indian Air Force jointly agreeing to put in place “foolproof security arrangements” for the safety of passengers and the airliners.
A senior government official, pleading anonymity, said the tussle between the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the AAI over the airliners’ security ended this morning, with both agencies agreeing to put in place “strict security arrangements” for the safety of passengers and the aircraft. “It was decided that to avoid any trouble, a good number of police and paramilitary personnel would escort the passengers and their baggage from the Srinagar International Airport upto Awantipora aerodrome,” the official said.
He said an airline official, a cop and a paramilitary trooper would guard the passenger baggage which would be transported to the Awantipora airstrip in special containers, which shall be completely sealed. “It was also decided that the hand baggage would undergo X-ray check at the Awantipora airport and the passengers would also undergo physical checking before allowed to board the planes,” he said.
Pertinently, the passengers shall be given boarding passes at the Srinagar Airport and transported in State Road Transport Corporation buses to Awantipora for boarding. The security of airliners had yesterday brought the BCAS and the AAI at loggerheads with each other, with former demanding passenger and baggage check at the Awantipora airport too. But today, the state government and the AAI sorted out the issue with the BCAS.

RESTRICTION ON AIRLINES
So far it is unclear whether all flights would be able to operate to and from the Awantipora aerodrome. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has reportedly asked some of the commercial airlines not to operate till further orders. On Friday, GoAir, however would be operating normally from the Awantipora airstrip, sources said.

ARRANGEMENTS REVIEWED
Different agencies related to airport security, and boarding and lodging, Thursday reviewed the arrangements in place for operation of flights from the Awantipora aerodrome. The meeting was attended by officials of the BCAS, AAI, Srinagar-based IAF’s Air Officer Commanding, principal secretary to chief minister, BB Vyas, principal secretary, Home, B R Sharma, Transport Commissioner, MD SRTC and station managers of commercial airlines.
GOAIR FAUX PAS
Sources said the BCAS officials scolded the Srinagar-based officials of the GoAir for issuing a misleading advertisement in local dailies saying “GoAir is the only airline that will be operating two flights daily from September 3 to September 15.”
The flights were to operate from Awantipora and GoAir is not the only carrier to operate. SpiceJet and other commercial airlines are waiting for a nod from the Civil Aviation Ministry to operate.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 2 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 2 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 3 Sep 2010 00:00:00 IST