BCAS withdraws airport passes with ‘distorted’ map of India

New Delhi: All passes issued to employees and visitors of airports across the country have been withdrawn by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) after it was found that a 'distorted' map of India was printed on them, officials said.

'Map images were wrongly depicted in the passes issued at all AAI operated airports & 6 Adani group-run airports'

Map images of Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeastern region, Rajasthan and Gujarat were wrongly depicted in the passes issued at all Airports Authority of India (AAI) operated airports and six Adani group-run airports including, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati and Mangaluru.

After it was found that the images were "distorted", the BCAS has withdrawn the passes, an official privy to the development said.

Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to MoCA discusses e-BCAS project

Embedded hologram roll being used is not according to the sample hologram: BCAS

In a communication to the chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the BCAS said that the embedded hologram roll being used is not according to the sample hologram approved by the BCAS.

"Keeping in view the seriousness of the issue, it is hereby directed that all Aerodrome Entry Permits (AEPs) issued with holograms shall be withdrawn and further printing with these hologram roll shall be stopped with immediate effect," said the letter.

'AAI has been directed to submit an action taken report on the issue to the BCAS'

The BCAS also conveyed that the AAI will conduct an inquiry in the matter, find out at which level the lapses occurred, who is responsible for procuring these hologram rolls and take appropriate action against the responsible officers.

"The AAI has been directed to submit an action taken report on the issue to the BCAS at the earliest," it said. It also stated that a person, who is not a passenger with a valid ticket, requires an AEP that is issued by the airport.

The AEP application form, which is issued by the BCAS, mentions 13 zones that a person can enter. The permitted areas include the arrival halls, the departure halls, the terminal building, the apron area, the security hold area, cargo terminal among others.

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)