Digi Yatra to Expand to 14 Additional Airports
Expanding Digital Travel Experience to 14 Additional Airports
The Digital Travel Experience, known as Digi Yatra, is set to enhance its presence by extending its services to 14 more airports by the end of this month. Efforts are underway to refine its user interface and architecture to offer a more seamless experience, as stated by a high-ranking official.
Utilizing Facial Recognition Technology (FRT), Digi Yatra streamlines passenger movement across various checkpoints within airports, eliminating the need for physical contact. Presently, the service boasts close to 5 million users and is operational in 14 domestic airports. Discussions are also ongoing to extend its benefits to international travelers.
CEO of Digi Yatra Foundation, Suresh Khadakbhavi, anticipates the inclusion of it in 14 additional airports by the end of April. The foundation, a non-profit organization, spearheads the Digi Yatra initiative, which debuted in December 2022.
Digi Yatra to Expand to 14 Additional Airports
The upcoming airports slated to introduce this services are Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Dabolim, Indore, Mangalore, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Srinagar, Trivandrum, and Vishakhapatnam.
While this inclusion gains momentum, concerns about passenger data privacy have surfaced. In response, Khadakbhavi clarified that it doesn’t store passengers’ data centrally. “The data remains solely on the user’s device, under their control,” he reassured. Additionally, any data shared during registration is encrypted for security.
To utilize this service, passengers register details through the app, undergoing Aadhaar-based validation and submitting a self-image. Subsequently, at the airport, passengers scan their boarding passes, and their information is transmitted to the airport. At the e-gate, a facial recognition system validates the passenger’s identity against their travel documents, allowing access.
Passengers must still adhere to standard security procedures before boarding. Airport personnel are instructed to enroll passengers only with their explicit consent. Khadakbhavi emphasized ongoing efforts to enhance user experience, ensuring Digi Yatra remains user-friendly and efficient.