Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia chaired an advisory committee group meeting with airport operators, CISF and Bureau of Immigration officials yesterday to discuss possible changes in airport interior design, as well as new technologies to expedite immigration and security check processes for international travellers.
According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, this is being seen as a major step in building international aviation hubs in India.
“We are currently discussing the design models to speed up immigration and security for international travellers. New technologies such as e-biometrics are also on the anvil and are currently being tested. These will be key in our vision for international aviation hubs in India,” Union Minister Scindia shared.
During the meeting, discussions revolved around exploring solutions inspired by international airport models, such as those of Singapore and Canada. Key highlights included the examination of cross-utilization of XBIS machines at Delhi airport, aiming to enhance machine availability and reduce wait times. Additionally, proof of concept trials for e-gates and e-biometrics are underway, promising to revolutionize efficiency and security in immigration processes.
So far, 76 routes have been awarded for Uttarakhand under UDAN, out of which 40 routes including Dehradun-Pithoragarh have been operationalized. Elaborating on the work being done under the UDAN scheme, Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said that the development of Dharchula, Haridwar, Joshimath, Mussoorie, Nainital, and Ramnagar heliports is also being done.
Further, a comprehensive analysis of manpower requirements for CISF and Immigration officers has been conducted, considering the planned expansions of existing and new airports across the country, including those in Jewar, Navi Mumbai, among others.Scindia also emphasised the government’s commitment for embracing innovation and leveraging technology to transform India’s civil aviation landscape. He reiterated the ministry’s dedication for positioning India as a global leader in air travel and industry’s common goal to create multiple aviation hubs in the country.
