CISF survey finds long security checks trouble maximum air fliers

Extended waiting time for security checks troubles maximum number of air fliers in the country, a countrywide survey conducted by CISF has found.

The exhaustive 'passenger feedback survey' was undertaken for the first time by 3.44-lakh departing air passengers across 54 of the total 59 civilian airports of the country which are under the security umbrella of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

The CISF, which is the first interface for air fliers at maximum civil airports in the country, had asked passengers to rate the force on four parameters-- courtesy and attitude, thoroughness of security inspection, waiting time at security inspection and feeling of safety and security.

The fortnight-long-survey was conducted during August 17-31 last year and produced good ratings for the 'courtesy and attitude' services of CISF personnel with 98.3 per cent passengers calling it to be between good and excellent.

1.43 per cent passengers found this service to be average while 0.25 per cent said they were not satisfied by the behaviour of CISF personnel.

98.7 per cent passengers said the thoroughness of security inspection was between good and excellent while 97.48 fliers said the same for the force personnel when it came to the experience of feeling safety and security in the airport premises.

The least percentage of satisfaction, at 95.97, was given by fliers for the waiting time at security area for frisking and other checks.

On a scale of five, the passengers gave 4.39 marks for this subject while they awarded 4.51 marks on the same scale for courtesy and attitude of the security personnel.

The CISF said it is in process of addressing these issues so that the checking at departure entry gates of airports are "fast" and that the security checks could be a "bit faster".

The fliers also gave a long wish list during the survey which they feel would ease and better the experiences at airports.

Some of the suggestions include-- more smiling faces of the CISF at airports, deploying local language knowing personnel at gates, allow laptops to be screened from within the bags and separate security check area for senior citizens and specially-abled passengers.