Airports may levy spot fines if COVID-19 rules are violated

Guwahati: The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday stated that passengers at some airports were to be found to be flouting the mandatory COVID-19 rules during the routine surveillance.

In view of this, the aviation authority has advised airports to explore the option of taking stricter actions, such as levying a fine, if people are found in violation of rules at the premises.

“During the surveillance of some airports, it has come to notice that compliance (of COVID-19 protocols) is not satisfactory. All airport operators, therefore, are requested to ensure that the instructions on COVID-19 protocol from the standpoint of wearing face mask properly, covering nose and mouth, as well as maintaining social distance norms within the airport premises are followed scrupulously,” the DGCA said. 

Accordingly, all airport operators can increase surveillance in this regard, the DGCA said. “The possibility of taking punitive action, such as levy of spot fines in accordance with the law, shall also be explored with the local police authorities so as to serve a deterrent for violation of COVID-19 protocol,” it stated. 

The warning from the aviation regulatory body comes amid the alarming spike in COVID-19 cases in the country, which is considered the second wave of coronavirus. The country has reported 56,211 fresh COVID-19 cases and 271 deaths in the last 24 hours while on Monday, it reported a record 68,020 cases, its highest single-day rise so far this year.  

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