Wednesday 4 August 2010

Airline baggage check-in at Metro stations

Once the Airport Express Line of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) becomes operational, passengers heading for the airport will be able to check-in their luggage at the Metro stations.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has given its approval in this regard. The bureau is yet to agree to a request by the DMRC authorities, to also allow passenger check- in at Metro stations.

According to sources, air passengers boarding at Metro stations will be issued a special tag using which they can trace their luggage at the airport.

Every luggage will be screened twice-once at the Metro station and then at the airport. If anything suspicious is found, the passenger concerned can be traced through the special tag," a BCAS official said.

The decision was taken at a recent meeting attended by senior officials from the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), BCAS, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), DMRC and various airlines.

The BCAS had been objecting to the proposal for a long time. According to sources, the bureau's major concern was ensuring that no one had access to the luggage after the check- in. "The luggage will be carried in a separate container.

After unloading at the airport, it will go through a five-level baggage checking system," an official said.

The Airport Express Line is scheduled to open in September, a month before the Commonwealth Games.

The BCAS had felt that the direct check-in plan, especially during the Games when the security threat is high, doesn't provide foolproof safety to passengers or baggage.

The passenger check-in was proposed at three stations-New Delhi, Shivaji Stadium and Dhaula Kuan. But baggage check-in will be allowed only at the New Delhi and Shivaji Stadium stations. In fact, these two stations will almost be like a mini airport terminal.

"Only the infrastructure is being readied by the DMRC. But the rest of the work-be it signalling, telecom or tracklaying - will be handled by Reliance Energy and Spanish company CAF. Even the fare on this line will be decided by Reliance," a DMRC official said.

In a bid to reduce airlines' woes, DIAL is planning to introduce a Common User Terminal Equipment (CUTE). "This will help passengers get their boarding passes automatically. Airlines need not set up separate counters at Metro stations," a DIAL official said.

The Shivaji Stadium Metro station is more than thrice the size of a usual one.

For reducing chaos between those moving in and out, this station will also be equipped with segregated arrival and departure areas.

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