2,870 CISF personnel deployed to secure Noida and Navi Mumbai International Airports

The Union government has sanctioned the deployment of 2,870 personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to secure two newly developing international airports in Noida and Navi Mumbai. This deployment is part of preparations as both airports are set to commence operations in 2025. The Noida International Airport, located in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, is expected to begin passenger operations by April 2025, while the Navi Mumbai International Airport is scheduled to initiate operations in March-April 2025.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has allocated 1,840 CISF personnel for the Navi Mumbai International Airport and 1,030 for the Noida International Airport. The CISF teams will be responsible for security operations once the airports are ready for the first phase of operationalization. The security personnel will take charge after the installation of security infrastructure, including security gadgets and systems, at both airports.

The CISF will be tasked with providing a wide range of security services at both airports, including passenger frisking, baggage screening, and implementing anti-sabotage, counter-terrorism, and counter-hijack measures. The security teams will work in close coordination with other law enforcement and intelligence agencies to maintain a secure environment at the airports. The units will be led by officers with the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG), ensuring effective management and oversight of security operations.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport, which is being developed in five phases by the Adani Group, will have an ultimate passenger handling capacity of 9 crore passengers annually. The first phase of the airport will handle up to 2 crore passengers annually. This airport will serve as a crucial addition to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s aviation infrastructure, easing the pressure on the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The Noida International Airport, also developed by the Adani Group, is located in the Jewar area, approximately 75 km from Delhi, and is expected to be the second international airport in the Delhi-NCR region after Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Currently, the CISF provides security at 68 airports across India. With this new deployment, the CISF will extend its responsibilities to the Noida and Navi Mumbai airports. The force's role will include all facets of airport security, from passenger screening to the prevention of potential security threats. The CISF will play a critical role in ensuring the smooth and secure operations of these major international airports as they begin service.