Passengers flying out of Delhi, Varanasi and Bengaluru will no longer need a boarding pass for entry and pre-security checks. The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched Digi Yatra, a Facial Recognition Technology (FRT)-based app for contactless, seamless processing of passengers at airports.
Digi Yatra will allow a traveler to pass through various checkpoints at the airports through the paperless and contactless medium that uses facial features to establish the passenger’s identity, which could be linked to the boarding pass.
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Major international airports such as Heathrow, London; Atlanta, US; and Dubai, UAE Airports also use the technology to handle passenger management. Scindia said Dubai Airport saves upto 40% of passengers’ time using the technology. A similar technology saved nine minutes per aircraft time at the Atlanta Airport.
Compared to other ports of call, the Indian system has been made far more seamless from entry to exit, and therefore will be one of the most efficient systems from across the world, Scindia added.
At which Indian airpots is Digi Yatra available?
Launched initially at Delhi, Bengaluru and Varanasi airports, the technology will be extended to Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, and Vijayawada by March 2023. Later it would be implemented across various airports in the country. The service is presently being launched for domestic flights passengers only. Digi Yatra App is available on both IoS and android. It is voluntary is nature.
Digi Yatra Privacy concerns
Passengers can access Digi Yatra by registering on the app just once using Aadhar based validation and a self-image capture. To ensure the privacy of travellers, the Digi Yatra ecosystem has no provision of central storage of Personally Identifiable Information (PII), said Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia at the launch of the app on December 1.
Passenger’s ID and travel credentials are stored in a secure wallet in the passenger’s smartphone itself. The system uses blockchain technology to process the uploaded data, and all data is purged from the servers within 24 hours of use.
How to use Digi Yatra: Step-by-step guide
1. Download the Digi Yatra app from Google Play or Apple App stores.
2. Register with the OTP received on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
3. Upload your Aadhaar-verified identity documents using DigiLocker or offline Aadhaar.
4. Upload a selfie photo from your phone’s camera when prompted by the app. Ensure the image is clear and has no obstructions.
5. Update upcoming travel by uploading your Boarding Pass.
At Delhi airport, passengers may use the E-gate at Terminal 3 to enter.
-Scan your bar-coded boarding pass
-Look into facial recognition system camera. The E-gate will open and allow you to enter.
-Now drop your luggage at check-in terminal of the airline and proceed to Digi Yatra Gate at Zone 1 PESC (near Business Class entry).
-At Digi Yatra Gate at Zone 1 PESC, look into the Facial Recognition camera. The E-gate will now open and allow you in for security check.
