Dear
Readers,
I
was at the Delhi Airport a few days back, when I had to stand in a long queue
for the routine security check. As I was standing, I looked around to see how
much of congestion this security checking procedure was causing.
It
was an early morning flight for which I had to wake up quiet early, get ready
and find a cab to reach the airport atleast 2 hour ahead of schedule.
While,
I was getting a little restless, with this snail speed security procedure, my
mind started to ponders to as “Why is it we have to come to the airport so
early, while we can rush to the railway station or the bus stop, even at the
last moment?” It is because of this time taking security check, where we need
to go through an entire gamut of process, which includes showing our id card
and ticket before we enter the airport, then getting the check-in baggage
scanned and sealed, proceeding to pick the boarding card and moving towards the
security check gate, where our hand baggage gets scanned, and we are asked to
remove our laptops and mobiles to be send separately through the scanner. (In some
countries, the passenger is also asked to remove his belt and shoes, which also
passes through the scanning machine). After which we walk through the scanning
metal frame and being frisked by the security officer, before he could stamp a
security seal in our boarding card and make us, “Flight worthy”.
So,
I was just thinking, “Why is that we need to go through SECURITY CHECK procedure at the first place.” Well, the
answer is obvious. It is in common interest of all and primarily to ensure the
safety of the passengers. As the safety of everyone is important, everyone wilfully
goes through this systematic process, to ensure they travel safely. When I am
being checked, I am also sure that all the other passengers are equally being
checked which gives me the peace of mind, that no untoward event would happen
in the course of my travel. Probably, it is the prayer and wish of everyone to
travel safe.
I
was just guessing, how many flight hijacks or terrorist attacks would have
happened on an aeroplane, over the years. Probably a few, inspite of all these
security checks.
Looking
at it from the other way, how many hijacks or attacks have been possibly avoided
owing to the security checks. The answer is unknown. It could be a lot more or
a few more, but not something which we can take a chance of guessing.
If
we were to think about this as a percentage it would be hardly negligible, but
even one negative incident, can cause the lives of many innocent people. And
the life of everyone is important.
While
we cannot leave the aspect of security to chance, undoubtedly it is one of the
annoying experiences, every passenger faces every time, he/she makes a flight
travel. Moreover, the collective amount of time lost, by all passengers is so huge.
The amount of money, spent on such security measures are too high. In an age,
where we work on a time – productivity matrix, this is a huge chunk of time
that goes waste on an unproductive task.
It
is such an irony of life, that the negative intentions of a few people, results
in so much of disturbance to the common man. While I don’t foresee a solution
to this problem, I only pray and wish a simpler and quicker system evolves, to
take care of this security check aspect. Even more ideal would be a day, when
everyone is in peace with each other, that there is not a need for a security
check, at all.
Happy Reading,
D. Senthil Kannan
Article Dated May 2016
