Aerocity hotels 'suffering huge losses' after security clearance delays
Facing flak from security agencies since the day its construction started, the Aerocity project at the IGI Airport has come under their scanner once again. This time, the hotels coming up at Aerocity have been asked to devise their own security systems over and above the airport security.
The recommendation has been made by a committee that reviewed security at airports in San Diego and Amsterdam last month. The committee included officials from the home ministry, Delhi Police, IB, RAW and the Civil Aviation Ministry.
The new recommendations for hotels include installing alarms at windows directly facing the runway and CCTV cameras on the roads leading to the hotels that overlook the runway. These are in addition to a recommendation made by security agencies for installing body and baggage scanners at the hotels.
Hotels being built in Aerocity have been asked to devise their own security systems independent of the airport
The panel also wants extensive police patrolling in Aerocity, by the CISF and the Delhi Police.
"The committee worked on their observations at San Diego and Amsterdam airports. The report was submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Civil Aviation Ministry by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security," a highly-placed source told Mail Today.
Civil Aviation Ministry officials declined to comment.
Significantly, hotel owners are already having a tough time fulfilling the demands of security agencies, with work on the project proceeding at an uneven pace for the last three years.
According to the Hotel Association of India (HAI), the delay is causing huge financial losses.
"A number of hotels are up and ready but we are not getting security clearance. The government should understand that investors coming up with hotels in Aerocity are undergoing huge losses," an HAI member said.
Rahul Pandita, COO, Lemon Tree, which is coming up with three hotels in Aerocity, said: "We have been complying with all instructions that have been passed on to us and will continue to do so. As far as installing alarm systems in windows is concerned, we will get them installed as soon as the instruction reaches us officially."
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