As a part of Covid-19 safety guidelines, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), a part of  India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued its first order yesterday stating that flyers are now allowed to carry up to 350 ml of hand sanitisers on flights. However, other liquid items are required to be 100 ml as per the existing carriage guidelines.

Along with this, BCAS has decided to scrap the procedure of stamping the passengers’ boarding pass that is being done by Aviation Security Group/ Airport Security Unit (APSU) after completion of the Pre-embarkation Security Check (PESU) at airports.

Both the APSU and the ASG are part of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which provides security at more than 60 airports across the country.

In an order accessed by the Press Trust of India, BCAS informs, “Every airport operator will have to ensure that there are enough CCTV cameras at an appropriate height in the PESC area to record the identity of a passenger and his or her boarding pass.

“This order has been issued in view of the prevailing situation of Covid-19 pandemic and countermeasures being taken to contain its spread by touch/contact.”

Currently, all commercial passenger flights in India have been suspended until May 17. Only repatriation flights and cargo flights are allowed to operate.

In its order to airports, airlines and other stakeholders, the BCAS said, “The airport operator shall ensure that the requisite monitoring system of high definition fixed CCTV Cameras and supporting infrastructure are maintained all through at PESC points at an appropriate height so that boarding pass of the passenger and his/her identity are digitally recorded.

“The CCTV recordings shall be preserved for 30 days, as per established practice.”