The Hand baggage will not need tags and stamping at seven major airports, including Delhi and Mumbai, from April 1.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), has decided to do away with the procedure to speed up the check in process.

Besides the Metropolitan cities, the rule will be implemented in Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Cochin.

Last year, in December, CISF started trial runs for this, but stamping was resumed after a week due to security concerns.

CISF Director General O P Singh said, “We have put in place the required security systems that will help us in ushering in this passenger-friendly move.”

“This move, will enhance the passenger experience and provide hassle free security environment for them” said Mr. Singh.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), in February issued an order announcing that the procedure was to be done away with, but the CISF, objected for immediate implementation of the plan.

The CISF wanted to install, appropriate security infrastructure before such a rule could be brought in.

There should be no compromise on the security aspect of these sensitive facilities, said CISF.

The personnel have been updated about the new protocol and that he himself had seen the preparations made in this regard at the Bengaluru airport, yesterday, said Singh.

CISF, recently had conducted trial runs in two phases at 12 airports.

The stamping of baggage tags could be dispensed, with after certain modifications of security architecture, in Security, Hold Areas of the airports and installation of high definition CCTV cameras, CISF concluded.

These modifications were required to make sure that passengers could not access bags, containing restricted items which are segregated by CISF personnel for checking.

A CISF official said, “The high Definition CCTV cameras focused on the baggage screening system were required.”

“A CISF personnel who cleared a bag could be easily identified to fix accountability,” said the official.

By Supraja