Airports in India are manned by Central Industrial Security force (CISF) for whom the Airport Authority(AAI or private operators like GMR) has to pay a fixed amount every year as charges for the security provided. As usual India being a colonist country there are so many red tapes and there is this one organisation called as "Bureau of Civil Aviation Security"shortly known as BCAS which also takes care of office procedures that are related to security.
This post will tell you about how to get One Time Airport Entry Pass(TAEP) from BCAS. Other than BCAS, some privately operated airport also gives passes on payment of fee. But this pass which i am going to detail is completely free.
The Pass is given for a time period of 2 hrs for domestic and 3 hours for international.
Pass will be either for Domestic or International and Departure or Arrival. In case of Departure you can go with your guest upto security check and in case of Arrival you can go upto the front of the Arrival Hall in case of Domestic and in case of International arrival upto Immigration check.
Passes are given for a specific Date and time and will not be allowed after that even if flight gets late. This is kind of stupid but CISF personnel are strict on this.
You have to first write a letter to Regional Director, BCAS, indicating who is coming, what is his position, how many passes you needed and a application form is also(link attached herewith). usually 2 persons are allowed to receive/send off one dignitary. Covering letter + Application form+ Photocopies of ID card.
All these restrictions on timings/number of passes are a thumb rule there is no written rules regarding this. All are allowed to the discretionary power of the Regional Director, BCAS.
One more important thing is the application should be submitted along with the photocopies of ID cards for whom passes are required. Applications wihtout ID card are rejected out rightly.
BCAS office is located at all airports. Ask CISF personnel for the location of office. They most probably will know of all others. It will not be inside the airport building or anywhere near. It will be a separate office somewhere around the building.
Now to the important question of whom shall get the pass.? Again it is completely discretion of the Regional Director.. usually passes for commoner are not given. For VIP, VVIP it is easy to get. Airline staffs, Pilots usually get for their loved one. Private organisation submit their request when someone important arrive from abroad.
Kudos.. Now that you know one more information and knowledge for the day.