In view of the rising number of Covid cases across the country, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday asked airports to enhance surveillance and explore the possibility of imposing “spot fines” on those who violate Covid-19 protocols. In an advisory issued to airports, the DGCA noted that compliance of some airports to Covid-19 guidelines weren’t satisfactory.
“All airport operators, therefore, are requested to ensure that the instructions on Covid-19 protocol from the standpoint of wearing a face mask properly, covering nose and mouth, as well as maintaining social distance norms within the airport premises are followed scrupulously,” the circular said.
Airports have been given a strict SOP as part of the measures being taken to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus as India stares at a second more lethal wave. Accordingly, all airport operators can increase surveillance in this regard, the DGCA said.
“The possibility of taking punitive action, such as levy of spot fines in accordance with the law, shall also be explored with the local police authorities so as to serve a deterrent for violation of Covid-19 protocol,” it stated.
The March 13 circular had asked the airport operators to hand over the passengers, who are not following the Covid-19 protocol even after repeated warnings, to the security agencies. Moreover, it had asked the airlines to de-board the passengers who refused to adhere to Covid-19 norms even after repeated warnings and consider banning them from flying for at least three months.
Till last week, three Indian carriers had started the process of putting 15 domestic travellers on no-fly list. These 15 are likely to be barred from flying for up to three months, under DGCA’s unruly flyer norms. Of these 15 passengers, three were offloaded before take-off for refusing to wear PPE gown as required on their middle seats or masks. The other 12 were handed over to police on landing at the destination.
The DGCA said that it has approved 18,843 flights per week from 108 airports for the summer schedule, which begins on the last Sunday of March and ends on the last Sunday of October. “It may be noted that 18,843 departures per week have been finalised to/from 108 airports. Out of these 108 airports, Bareilly, Bilaspur, Kurnool and Rupasi are the new airports proposed by the scheduled airlines,” the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said on Twitter.
It said IndiGo’s 8,749 weekly flights and SpiceJet’s 2,854 have been approved for the summer schedule. GoAir’s 1,747 flights, Air India’s 1,683, Vistara’s 1,288 and AirAsia India’s 1,243 have also been approved.
Wednesday, 31 March 2021 | PNS | New Delhi
