TBM Staff - Mumbai
Digi Yatra will be implemented at 14 additional airports by the end of April. Efforts are being made to improve the facility’s user-friendliness through certain architectural adjustments. This initiative uses Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) to enable contactless and seamless passenger movement at airport checkpoints.
Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO, Digi Yatra Foundation, announced that Digi Yatra will be available at 14 more airports by the end of this month, marking a significant step towards making air travel easier. The foundation is a not-for-profit entity and the central agency for Digi Yatra, which was launched in December 2022.
Digi Yatra Foundation’s CEO also emphasised that passenger data is securely stored and controlled by the passengers themselves, addressing privacy concerns. Passenger data shared for Digi Yatra is stored in encrypted form.
“It remains on the user’s phone, where the data is under their control,” he told PTI in an interview.
The process includes registering through the Digi Yatra app using Aadhaar-based verification and capturing a self-image, followed by scanning the boarding pass and facial recognition validation at airport e-gates.
Efforts are underway to enhance user experience, and discussions are being held to expand the service to international travel. Stakeholders of the foundation include the 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).
To access the service, passengers need to register their details on the Digi Yatra app using Aadhaar-based verification and a self-image capture. Once registered, they scan their bar-coded boarding pass, and the facial recognition system at the e-gate verifies their identity and travel documents. After successful verification, passengers can proceed through the e-gate to enter the airport.
Afterward, passengers must undergo the usual security clearance procedure before boarding their flight. Airport staff are instructed to enroll passengers only with their consent.
India’s domestic air traffic is experiencing substantial growth, with over 15.2 crore passengers recorded in 2023.
