Poll time: Passengers bear the brunt of VIP security

On Saturday night,a flight from Chicago circled the Delhi airport for around half an hour before it was finally allowed to land.

On Saturday night,a flight from Chicago circled the Delhi airport for around half an hour before it was finally allowed to land. As the harried passengers finally got out,they wondered what was it that delayed their arrival. Its election time, they were told.

Tejinder Singh,one of the passengers,had caught the flight from Brussels. When he asked the airport staff,the delay was blamed on the VIP movement that has increased manifold because of election campaigns. With most politicians enjoying Z-grade security,it demands that the airport be thoroughly checked before the politicians board their flights or private jets. Delhi being the centre of all political activities,the airport is witnessing an increase in traffic,which in turn leads to flight delays and inconvenience to passengers.

It was a nightmare. We were all tired and the children restless. Why is there so much of confusion? Singh asked.

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Newsline visited Terminal IA for three consecutive days since Thursday to watch the VIP movement. Sonia Gandhi,L K Advani,Arun Jaitley,Digvijay Singh,Rajnath Singh,Trilochan Singh,Sukhbir Badal and others were seen taking their flights and chartered aircraft with much fanfare. Most of these leaders turned up every day.

An hour before United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi was to arrive at the airport (around 9.30 am) to leave for campaigning in other parts of the country,her special protection group cordoned off Terminal 1A of the domestic airport. Additional forces were deployed over and above the entire manpower of the Palam Airport police station. At the receiving end were the regular passengers who were left with no option but to stand watching,helpless and apprehensive,with their luggage in tow.

Around the same time,Leader of the Opposition L K Advani arrived with his caravan of six cars. The zig-zag traffic route with no proper signage led to confusion on the approach road to the new Terminal 1D and created a long jam on the road ahead.

VIPs keep coming and going,using the VIP lounge. They come during the early hours and return in the evening. We have to provide additional security to them, said a senior police officer at the Palam Airport police station who did not wish to be named. He added that the deployment of the entire force on VIP duty meant ignoring general security issues that concern regular passengers.

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Several aircraft flying into Delhi are made to circle in the air for as long as one hour at times,as VIPs line up to depart or arrive at the airport. On ground,traffic movement at the domestic airport has gone for a toss,thanks to the VIP caravans and tight security. While the Indira Gandhi International Airport already suffers from the side effects of the ongoing development work,VIPs whizzing in and out of the premises only adds to the inconvenience to passengers.

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