A major security reassessment for Trichy International Airport has resulted in a near-doubling of the required Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), in consultation with the civil aviation ministry, has now sanctioned 738 CISF personnel for the airport, a significant jump from the earlier approved strength.
Security Shortfall Impacts International Transit
This manpower shortfall has been identified as a primary reason for the delay in fully restoring seamless international-to-international transit operations. These operations were affected following the airport's shift to its new integrated terminal in June 2024. Despite the terminal being equipped with dedicated infrastructure like X-ray machines and metal detectors in the transit area, the lack of sufficient security staff has been a bottleneck.
Parliamentary Disclosure Reveals Current Gap
The details came to light in Parliament when Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, replied to a question raised by Trichy MP Durai Vaiko. The minister disclosed that the airport currently has only 373 CISF personnel against the previously sanctioned strength of 385. The new assessment, prompted by the higher passenger-handling capacity of the modern terminal, demands a drastic increase in deployment to 738.
Officials have clarified that it is not a lack of infrastructure but the shortage of security staff that is holding up the revival of smooth international transit. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had also formally requested more CISF personnel to manage screening operations in the international transit area of the new terminal.
Push for Enhanced Deployment
Following the revised BCAS assessment, MP Durai Vaiko stated that the Union Home Ministry would be approached to station the additional CISF personnel urgently. The move is critical to ensuring smooth and secure terminal operations and unlocking the full potential of the new integrated terminal, which was built to enhance passenger experience and capacity.
The substantial revision in manpower highlights the evolving security needs of India's growing aviation hubs. The focus is now on bridging this gap to restore Trichy's full functionality as an international transit point.
