Steps to avoid swapping of boarding cards

Steps to avoid swapping of boarding cards
PREETU NAIR, TNN

PANAJI: In February 2009, four Iranians, who had boarded a flight from Goa to UK were detained at Bahrain by the British consulate staff, when the crew stopped there for refueling. They were found to be travelling on forged Cyprus passports.

In another instance, in October 2008, a person who had taken a ticket to fly to Dubai in an Indian airlines flight boarded an IA flight to Mumbai. He was apprehended at the Mumbai airport.

With cases of boarding card swapping and missing domestic and international passengers coming to light at the Dabolim airport, this year, the Goa police has asked all charter and tour operators to ensure separation of domestic and international passengers in immigration areas to avoid mixing of passengers and boarding card swapping.

"To ensure that no such things happen, we have also asked for separate security check gates for domestic and international flights and checking of passport at ladder point, before boarding of flight to avoid impersonation," said SP (Immigration) Tony Fernandes.

This issue was discussed during a meeting of all charter operators and tour operators held by the police on October 9, 2009 at police headquarters. Also, all flight operators have been asked to ensure that sufficient blank disembarkation cards are collected from Immigration office Dabolim airport and the same sent well in advance to the originating country of the charter flight. The said cards should be filled on board the flight by the passengers before arrival in Goa and filling of disembarkation cards in the Immigration arrival hall should be avoided, as the same will create confusion/hindrance in the Immigration procedure.

Also, with the number of Russian tourists expected to increase this year, the police has made it clear that "during last charter season it was noted that many passengers, specially from Russia, arrived under heavy influence of alcohol and created nuisance in the arrival hall. Immigration reserves the right to accept/reject such passengers".

Besides, swine flu check forms will be given to passengers on board the flights. Meanwhile, two charter flights arrived from Russia today, bringing with it 382 tourists. While one flight brought in 176 Russians and one Kazakhistan passenger, the second flight brought in 184 Russians, 15 Belarus nationals, 4 Ukranians, 1 Iranian and 1 Armenian passenger.

15 October 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition