The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has withdrawn all passes issued to employees and visitors at airports across the country after it was discovered that a “distorted” map of India was printed on them, according to officials.
Passes issued at all Airports Authority of India operated airports and six Adani group-run airports Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, and Mangaluru incorrectly depicted map images of Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeastern region, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
The BCAS withdrawn the passes after it was discovered that the images were “distorted,” according to an official
In a communication to the chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the BCAS said the embedded hologram roll being used is not according to the sample hologram approved by the BCAS.
However, the letter said that “Keeping in view the seriousness of the issue, it is hereby directed that all Aerodrome Entry Permits (AEPs) issued with holograms shall be withdrawn and further printing with these hologram rolls shall be stopped with immediate effect.”
The BCAS also stated that the AAI will investigate the matter, determine where the lapses occurred, who is responsible for obtaining these hologram rolls, and take appropriate action against the responsible officers.
As per the statement, the AAI has been directed to submit an action taken report on the issue to the BCAS as soon as possible. A person who is not a passenger with a valid ticket must obtain an AEP from the airport.
The AEP application form, which is issued by the BCAS, mentions 13 zones that a person can enter. The permitted areas include the arrival halls, the departure halls, the terminal building, the apron area, the security hold area, cargo terminal among others.
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