Chennai: In view of 73rd Independence Day celebrations, security measures at the Chennai Airport have been stepped up. This cover all areas of the airport, including the parking lot and the aircraft fuel filling place, sources said.
According to an official press release, "Passengers flying out of Chennai Airport are requested to reach the airport well in advance to avoid any inconvenience."A special meeting was convened in this regard with all the stakeholders, at the airport. The heightened security measures will be in place till 31 August midnight, added the release from AAI Chennai Airport.
Airport sources said, the Domestic travellers to arrive one and a half hours early and international passengers to arrive before three and a half hours amid a high-security alert. Bomb squad, metal detecting squad were deployed inside and outside the Airport premises to ensure safety.
With Independence Day just over a week away and in the wake of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir being nullified, there have been heightened bag-checking procedures put in place at the airport. Last week, the Kempegowda International Airport for Bengaluru city was put under a high-security alert ahead of Independence Day.
According to reports, Tamil Nadu DGP JK Tripathy set up a five-member team comprising to put in place security measures to avert any untoward incidents in the state following the government's Article 370 move. The Union Ministry had ordered all security forces across all the states in the country to stay on 'maximum alert'.
