The need for such assessments became apparent after passengers complained about delays at security counters during peak travel seasons last summer and winter
Key airports in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, are facing a shortage of over 4,000 security personnel, according to an internal government study. This shortage is expected to cause delays for air passengers throughout the year, with government agencies predicting the situation will improve only by the end of 2024.
The aviation ministry’s study highlights a significant shortfall in Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel. Delhi airport alone has a shortage of over 1,300 CISF personnel against a sanctioned strength of around 6,200. Bengaluru airport faces a gap of over 1,000 CISF personnel from its sanctioned strength of more than 3,700.
Chennai and Kolkata airports each have a shortfall of over 800 personnel, with a sanctioned strength of over 2,000 each. Mumbai airport is short by more than 150 personnel against a sanctioned strength of over 4,100. This lack of personnel not only raises security concerns but also results in long queues and delays for travelers at entry gates and security checks.
The need for such assessments became apparent after passengers complained about delays at security counters during peak travel seasons last summer and winter. The study estimates that more than 5,000 CISF personnel will be needed across 15 major airports by the end of 2024. This projection aligns with the expected increase in air traffic, fueled by airline expansion plans and rising disposable incomes.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Indian airlines carried a record 152 million passengers in 2023, a 23% increase from 2022 and 5% higher than the pre-COVID year of 2019. From January to April, domestic air traffic reached 52.3 million passengers, a 4% rise compared to the same period last year. The Airports Authority of India reported that international passenger traffic at Indian airports grew 22% year-over-year to 69.64 million passengers for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
