Lok Sabha Elections 2019 Model Code of Conduct: Airport security strengthened, surprise inspections approved

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: In the wake of implementation of the Model Code of Conduct ahead of the upcoming General Elections 2019, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has announced the strengthening of the security measures at the airports with an aim to curb the movement of unauthorized arms, contraband goods, cash/bullion, etc. With these measures, the authorities aim to tackle the use of black money and any use of unauthorized arms and contraband goods. Some of the steps taken by the BCAS are as follows: 

1. Apart from measure to strengthen the security at the regular commercial airports, special measures have been introduced to check flights from Uncontrolled/Remote/unserved / airstrips /aerodromes /Helipads /private airstrips/Waterdromes.
 
2. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and AAI/ATC shall inform State Police, BCAS and Income Tax Department about these flights in advance.
 
3. The Air Traffic Control (ATC) shall share records of not only Scheduled Commercial Flights but also private aircrafts or helicopters to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State and the DEO of the district, in which the airport is located, about the travel plan of chartered aircrafts or helicopters as early as possible, preferably half an hour in advance.
 
4. DGsP of States shall deploy Police Units to check these flights during Code of Conduct as per the direction of Election Commission and extant rules and regulations of BCAS in this regards.
 
5. The operators of all private aircraft/helicopters must declare the contents of the baggage, suitcases, etc, carried on these flights to CEO of the states, DEOs of the districts, state police and IT Department.
 
6. With an aim to keep strict vigil over movement of cash through all airports Income Tax Department and CISF will be extended all requisite cooperation for checking and surveillance activities. This will be over and above what CISF is otherwise doing.

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7. Officers of BCAS will be conducting surprise inspections of these airports to check the compliance of these instructions.