Digi Yatra is set to be implemented at an additional 14 airports by the end of April. The authorities are making efforts to make the facility more user friendly with certain changes in the architecture. This initiative, driven by Facial Recognition Technology (FRT), aims to enable contactless and seamless passenger movement at airport checkpoints.
According to an announcement made by Digi Yatra Foundation CEO Suresh Khadakbhavi, Digi Yatra is expected to be available at 14 more airports by the end of this month, which is a significant step towards making air travel easy. This foundation is a not-for-profit entity and the nodal agency for Digi Yatra, which was introduced in December 2022.
Which 14 airports will get Digi Yatra?
The upcoming expansion of the service will encompass – Bagdogra airport, Bhubaneswar airport, Chandigarh airport, Chennai airport, Coimbatore airport, Dabolim airport, Indore airport, Mangalore airport, Patna airport, Raipur airport, Ranchi airport, Srinagar airport, Trivandrum airport, and Vishakhapatnam airport.
The facility is operational at as many as 14 airports currently for domestic travelers, efforts are underway to extend the service to international passengers as well. There are nearly 5 million users on the app.
Passengers’ data secured on Digi Yatra
Digi Yatra Foundation CEO also assured that passenger data is stored securely and under the control of the respective passengers, addressing privacy concerns. The data shared by a passenger for Digi Yatra is stored in an encrypted format.
“It is only in the phone (of the user) that the data is residing and it is in the control of the passenger himself or herself,” he told PTI in an interview.
The process involves registration through the Digi Yatra app using Aadhaar-based validation and a self-image capture, followed by scanning of the boarding pass and facial recognition validation at airport e-gates.
Work is ongoing to enhance user experience and discussions are in progress to expand the service for international travel. The foundation’s stakeholders include Airport Authority of India (AAI), Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL), Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (HIAL), and Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL).
How does Digi Yatra work?
To access the service, passengers need to register their details on the Digi Yatra app using Aadhaar-based validation and a self-image capture. Subsequently, the boarding pass is scanned, and the information is transmitted to the airport.
Upon reaching the airport e-gate, passengers scan their bar-coded boarding pass. The facial recognition system at the e-gate then validates the passenger’s identity and travel documents. After successful verification, passengers can proceed through the e-gate to enter the airport.
Following this, passengers must adhere to the standard security clearance procedure before boarding the aircraft. Airport personnel are instructed to enroll passengers only with their explicit consent.
India’s domestic air traffic is witnessing significant growth, with over 15.2 crore passengers recorded in 2023.