CISF personnel at the entrance of the terminal building of Patna airport on Friday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Feb. 24: They look after the security of the passengers, but for over 12 years, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) contingent at Jai Prakash Narayan International Airport, Patna, have not found any proper accommodation for themselves.

Relief, however, could be in the offing. A decision has been taken during a recent meeting between CISF and Airports Authority of India (AAI) that has allowed the personnel to take leased accommodation in the absence of government housing. This means that the families of the CISF would now be accommodated in private houses within a radius of 8km from the Patna airport.

Anand Saxena, CISF commandant at Patna airport, told The Telegraph: “We are looking for family quarters, houses or flats available on lease for the accommodation of the families of the CISF personnel posted at Patna airport. Our requirement is of around 100 residential units available in three to four clusters within a radius of maximum 8km from the Patna airport. The CISF contingent is mulling to take at least 24 to 25 quarters at single clusters on lease.”

According to sources, the decision regarding housing of the CISF personnel was taken at the headquarters level. At present, the families of CISF personnel are scattered in different areas of the state capital, including Anisabad, Sheikhpura, Ashiana Nagar, Buddha Colony among others. Apparently, no CISF personnel posted at Patna airport is a resident of this city and most of them stay with their families on rent.

“It is not good that security personnel reside in such a scattered manner across the city as it would be difficult to assemble them on a very short notice in case there is an emergency. Thus, the force is looking for cluster housing in close proximity of the airport,” a CISF source said.

CISF has thus made appeal to interested owners of housing societies/colonies and builders/developers among others to approach them either on the mobile numbers — 9471000149, 9931837785, 9431067367 or fax number 0612-2227511. People having housing accommodation of the desired numbers can approach us so that the personnel safeguarding the civil aviation operation at Patna airport may overcome their problems,” a senior CISF official said.

Unmarried CISF personnel, on the other hand, stay in a bachelors’ hostel developed at the Anisabad area, which was handed over to CISF in April last year. Half the total strength of CISF reside in this hostel.

Plans are afoot to develop residential blocks for the CISF families on the premises of the same bachelor’s hostel. Sources said the architectural wing of AAI is to prepare a plan for the development of proposed housing facility and get it sanctioned to initiate the tendering process for beginning the construction works. The construction might take around four to five years and the lease is a temporary option, the sources added.