Air Safety First: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport Rolls Out Stringent Checks in Response to Intelligence Alerts

Unknown Apr 02, 2026 750 Views

Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport has entered a new era of heightened vigilance after a crucial meeting between airport officials and the state home secretary, Ms. Nandhini Chakraborty. The urgent discussions, prompted by escalating regional tensions and recent inte...

Key Highlights:

Five-Tier Security System: The airport has been placed under an unprecedented five-tier security regime, enforced by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). This includes increased deployment of armed personnel, plainclothes officers for passenger profiling, and intensified patrolling, both inside and outside the terminal.
Enhanced Screening & Checks: Passengers now face more stringent vehicle inspections at entry points, a second layer of baggage screening at boarding gates, and random frisking. These measures are designed to prevent hijacking and other security threats, with protocols typically reserved for national holidays now in daily use.
Operational Adjustments: Domestic flyers are advised to arrive at least two hours before departure, and international travelers three hours in advance, to accommodate the expanded checks. The airport has also suspended runway repairs to manage rerouted air traffic, as flights now avoid Pakistani airspace.
Emergency Preparedness: Authorities have conducted full-scale security drills simulating air raids and are developing new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for war-specific emergencies. Evacuation plans include using the terminal basement, underground car park, and metro tunnels as shelters.
Coordinated Response: The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and CISF are working in tandem with local police, Customs, and Immigration to ensure seamless execution of these measures, underscoring Kolkata airport’s strategic importance near multiple international borders.