Flying from IGI may get costlier as hike in security cess likely

NEW DELHI: If Delhi airport has its way, passengers travelling out ill have to pay more to ensure they are secure at the airport.

The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which operates the Delhi airport, has said that there is a need to increase the passenger security fee (PSF) as they are unable to carry on day-to-day security related operations. Currently, every departing passenger pays ~200.

“As there is severe shortage of funds and in case the deficit continues to build up like this, we shall not be able to meet even the mandatory expenditure to maintain the security,” said DIAL in a letter to the ministry.

According to an estimate, PSF needs to increase to ₹300 to avoid any dues and to ₹350 if pending charges are also to be cleared. It should further increase by ₹20 every year to meet other expenses.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) recently wrote to the civil aviation ministry asking their intervention in releasing payment dues from DIAL.

The 59 airports which are secured by the CISF, owes ₹735.33 crore to the force, 90% (₹655.40 crore) of which is due from DIAL.

The airport authority in return has said, “It is unfair that DIAL is being projected as responsible for non-payment or delayed payment...”

Although salaries of CISF staff are not hit, it causes a loss to the government.

The cost of deployment of CISF is borne by the institution where it is installed and the amount goes to a consolidated fund of the home ministry . The MHA pays the salary to CISF.

A PSF of ₹200 is collected from each departing passengers of which, ₹130 is collected towards security costs while ₹70 is collected as facilitation charge. In 2016-17, DIAL collected ₹382 crore from passengers but paid only ₹204 crore to the CISF claiming rest of the amount is paid as loan interest, service tax and administrative charges.

Over 4,000 CISF personnel are posted at Delhi airport and the manpower is proposed to be increased.