Airport-like security to cruise travellers
NEW DELHI: Paramilitary force CISF has been earmarked for providing security to ports and also ensure an airport-like facility for travellers of luxury ships, as part of the government's grand plans to promote cruise tourism.
The Union home ministry has tasked the Central Industrial Security Force to "take care" of the security aspect of this project which is expected to have an interface with lakhs of international and domestic tourists every month.
Union Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Mahesh Sharma unveiled a proposal for a fullfledged cruise tourism policy yesterday and it is likely to be implemented within the next three months.
A blueprint prepared on the subject said the CISF will be responsible for all entry and exit operations at the port, frisking of disembarking and boarding passengers, validation of travel tickets, carrying out anti- sabotage checks and simplifying arrival procedures for incoming tourists.
A committee of senior officials of the central paramilitary, immigration and customs authorities has also been tasked to prepare standard operating procedures (SOPS) before the cruise tourism project is rolled out.
The CISF has also designated, for the first time, a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) rank officer at its headquarters here to look after the security of all the ports under its security umbrella in the country.
The force secures 12 major ports and about six shipyards in the country and has deployed about 4,000 personnel for the task. The proposed security SOPS will take care off of all arrival and departure procedures, baggages, activity of tour operators and waterfront security at the ports which will host cruises, they said.
"The security set up at the ports will be like that of the airports. The control and access of the port area will be regulated by the CISF and protocols as per international standards will be put in place at the designated ports where cruise ships will anchor," a senior official said.