India is set to revolutionise air travel for international passengers with the rollout of Digi Yatra, a facial-recognition technology designed to streamline security and immigration procedures. Already in use by domestic travellers, this innovative system will soon be available to international passengers, promising a smoother and more efficient airport experience.
India To Soon Rollout Digi Yatra For International Passengers
So it begins. Facial screening now live at Bangalore @BLRAirport. In a few months you can apparently go right through to the gates with no paper/boarding pass in your hand. Nice work #digiyatra ! pic.twitter.com/tdaiRcEYgR
— Hemant Mohapatra (@MohapatraHemant) November 1, 2019
Digi Yatra, developed by the Digi Yatra Foundation under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, aims to eliminate the stress of long queues and tedious paperwork at airports. The system enables passengers to share their credentials with immigration authorities in advance, allowing for faster clearances at airports in India and abroad. This approach significantly reduces the time spent navigating multiple security and immigration checkpoints, making the travel experience more pleasant for all.
The system works through biometric-based digital processing of passengers. For domestic travel, passengers register on the Digi Yatra app using their Aadhaar, India’s unique identification number. For international travellers, the process is evolving. Prototype testing of an electronic passport-based enrolment is currently underway.
Over 4 Million Users
Celebrating a milestone with gratitude! ✈️✨
Digi Yatra has reached 4 million users, and we couldn’t have done it without you!
Thank you for trusting us on your journey. Here’s to smoother travels ahead!Download the Digi Yatra App now. Available on IOS and Android.
IOS -… pic.twitter.com/0SImwtXvN4
— Digi Yatra Official (@DigiYatraOffice) July 13, 2024
Since its launch in December 2022, Digi Yatra has gained significant traction. Over 4 million users have registered on its Android and iOS platforms, with an average of 24,000 daily downloads. The growing number of passengers opting to use the system reflects its increasing popularity. By February, Digi Yatra had served 14.5 million passengers at airports. This is an increase from 11.3 million in December, according to government data.
Currently, Digi Yatra is available at 16 airports across India, with an adoption rate of 30-40%. 13 more airports are expected to adopt the technology in the future. By the end of this period, Digi Yatra will be operational at 29 airports, covering 90% of Indian air traffic. The goal is to achieve a usage rate of over 50% at all these airports by March 2025.
While Digi Yatra offers numerous benefits, its rapid adoption has raised concerns about data privacy and security. Particular focus is on the issue of tailgating, where an unauthorised person gains entry by following a verified passenger. The Digi Yatra Foundation has taken steps to address these concerns. The system uses a hash value of credentials, making personal data secure and inaccessible. Additionally, the system employs decentralised identifiers for every transaction, further enhancing security.
Cover Image Courtesy: @anandaditya/X (Formerly, Twitter), Wikimedia Commons
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