Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officials at Lohegaon International Airport have recommended some new security measures to prevent any intrusion of unauthorised vehicles into the high-security zone.

They have requested the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to install tyre-killers and bollards manufactured by an Israeli firm at entry and exit points of the airport complex. The proposal has been under discussion after the firm recently made a presentation at the airport.

The CISF is now awaiting the decision of the AAI.

A senior AAI official said, “An Israeli company recently made a presentation at Pune airport on its range security equipment including tyre-killers and bollards. The installation of such equipment is under consideration in all airports in the country and not just Pune. Any decision to this effect will be taken by the central officials of AAI.”

Tyre-killer is an electro-hydraulically operated spike obstruction that emerges above ground level on receiving a valid input signal thus preventing unauthorised entry. The tyre-killers that can be attached to the roads through bolts or adhesives puncture tyres of a vehicle rolling onto the anti-intruder equipment. Bollards are designed to block vehicles from entering restricted areas.

The official said it might take some time to implement these measures considering the economic constraints in times of a slowdown.

The CISF, however, looks at the equipment as a necessary part of the security arrangement. “Following the presentation, we requested the AAI officials to install tyre-killers and bollards for extra security,” said M S Sahi, Assistant Commandant of the CISF unit at Pune airport.

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