Home minister Rajnath Singh has directed paramilitary forces, local police and intelligence agencies to substantially increase security cover at all major airports across the country.

The home minister chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday to review airport security amid intelligence reports that Pakistan-based terrorists are planning to target crowded venues at major cities during the festive season in retaliation to the surgical strikes by India.

Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajpati Raju, minister of state Jayant Sinha and senior home ministry officials, Intelligence Bureau, civil aviation ministry and Central Industrial Security Forces officials attended the meeting.

Sources said intelligence agencies have said that terrorist could use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones to target airports.

The ministry officials stated that the outer security cordon at major airports will be enhanced by involving the local police and deploying more quick reaction teams (QRTs).

“The access control at the main terminal buildings is by-and-large fine with the Central Industrial Security Forcesss personnel managing it well.

But we need to be more careful about the security of outer periphery and the approach towards the main buildings, as terror groups could carry out operations outside. These issues were discussed in detail in today’s meeting and some steps will be put in place in the coming days,’’ a home ministry official said.

The official confirmed that since the CISF is providing “adequate security cover” and doing a “satisfactory job”, there is no need to raise a separate force for airport security. However, the CISF personnel being deployed at airports will be provided specialised training to handle any threat. Intelligence agencies have finalised their security audit for nearly 98 airports across the country. Once the exercise is completed, more corrective measures will be taken.