At present, 2,200 CISF personnel are deployed at Kolkata airport
Passengers at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata are now experiencing faster security clearance, thanks to new measures introduced by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
Earlier, CISF personnel at security check-in counters would ask passengers to place “objectionable items” on trays before scanning. Now, they specifically name restricted items like knives and lighters, making the process more efficient.
According to CISF officials, this small yet strategic change is saving time and reducing passenger queues.
Faster Screening & Language Training
CISF officers have also been trained to speed up hand baggage checks.
“We are considering how fast we can check the hand baggage. The personnel at the point where passengers place their bags now announce specific security-restricted items (SRIs) that should be removed beforehand. Earlier, discovering these items after scanning would slow down the process,” said Ajay Kumar, Deputy Inspector General, CISF in charge of Kolkata airport.
He added that queue lengths have significantly reduced due to these improvements.
To further streamline the process, CISF personnel from other states deployed in Kolkata are being trained in Bengali. This is expected to improve communication with passengers and further reduce security clearance time.
“Some CISF personnel do not speak Bengali. To assist passengers better, they are being trained to use simple Bengali phrases like ‘keep your boarding pass in hand’ or ‘place electronic and metal items in the tray,’” Kumar said.
Long Queues Have Been a Persistent Problem
Passengers have often complained about long waiting times at security checks.
Debashis Chakraborty, a frequent flyer, shared his experience:
“When I am travelling between 7 am and noon, I know it will take me at least 45 minutes to get security clearance.”
Another frequent traveller to Mumbai said security checks take 30 to 40 minutes during peak hours, though waiting times reduce after 8 pm.
Enforcing One-Passenger-One-Baggage Rule
Another issue causing delays is passengers carrying more than the permitted cabin baggage. As per aviation rules, each traveller is allowed only one piece of cabin baggage.
“Several passengers carry more than one bag, and we have to explain to them that they are not allowed to do so. This used to take a lot of time,” Kumar said.
To address this, CISF has asked airline operators to strictly enforce the one-person-one-baggage rule, leading to faster security processing.
At present, 2,200 CISF personnel are deployed at Kolkata airport. A senior official stated that the issue is not manpower but resource management.
CISF To Launch Coastal Cyclothon
To mark 56th CISF Day, the force will organise a CISF Coastal Cyclothon from March 7 to April 1. A total of 125 cyclists will cover 6,553 km along the Indian coastline.
The event will begin simultaneously from Lakhpat in Gujarat and Bakkhali in West Bengal, culminating at the Swami Vivekananda Memorial in Kanyakumari.
“We want to connect with the people,” said Shikhar Sahai, Inspector General, CISF, North East Sector II (Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
The initiative reflects CISF’s commitment to both security and community engagement, ensuring a seamless travel experience while maintaining high-security standards at the airport.