Airport security
As in the US airports, you walk through the door frame shaped scanner. Here is where the similarity ends.
Ø In the US, if the doorframe scanner doesn’t beep, you just walk through, collect your belongings (shoes, belts, etc) and proceed to your gate
Ø In india, the door frame scanner is kind of redundant – even if it does not beep, you need to go through the hand held scanning and patting !! The only good thing is that there is no need to remove shoes!! Most of the time is spent in the hand-held scanning – and since 100% of travelers have to undergo this process - the door frame scanner might as well be removed!
Mall / theatre security
With the recent blast in Pune, all malls and theatres have installed door frame scanner at entry points. What happens every day – 90% of the establishments don’t bother about the scanners at all – they beep from time to time as people pass through – and no one is around to monitor them!
At the remaining 10% - if the scanner beeps as you pass – a guard will perform some nominal frisking – but if a woman were to pass, and the scanner beeps – then no action is taken!! How sexist!! Women have a clean chit – and men are frisked!!
Bad times are here .. Always better to be safe than sorry ..
ReplyDeleteWell during one of my regular trips to Indian airport the hand held scanner went off on my shoulder .. As I was taken to the corner and my medical history checked for any metal inserts , the supervisor came armed with a better hand held scanner which he confidently tested on his belt buckle . That scanner also went bonkers on my shoulder .. And as the Supervisor checked my medical history , the CISF fellow gave me a good back massage. And as me and the CISF fellow sat wondering how the beepers can go bonkers without any metal , the supervisor asked me whether I had given myself a big whiff of perfume in the morning .. I admitted that I had openned and tested the new perfume bottle. The supervisor gleefully pumped up his chest ,I realized even if companies don't admit experience counts everywhere ..