In a recent notification, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that it has found the compliance of Covid-19 protocols at some airports of the country to be “not satisfactory”.
Airport operators have been asked to increase surveillance at airports and levy spot fines against those not following Covid-19 protocols amid the rising cases in India.
DGCA said, “During surveillance of some airports, it has come to the notice that compliance is not satisfactory. All airport operators, therefore, are requested to ensure that the instructions on Covid-19 protocol from the standpoint of wearing face mask properly, covering nose and mouth, as well as maintaining social distance norms within the airport premises are followed scrupulously.”
“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,” the aviation regulatory body added.
As per a few industry reports, at least 15 passengers up until now have been charged for violating Covid-19 norms in domestic airports and maybe put on a ‘no-flying’ list for a period of three months.
Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri Tweeted:
