Immigration Checks Set To Be Ramped Up Using Biometrics At Delhi, Mumbai And Bengaluru Airports

The government is gearing up to implement an expedited biometrics-based process for international passengers, aiming to streamline immigration checks and enhance India's airports as global transit hubs. 

Airports in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru are set to introduce automated immigration clearances, allowing international arrivals and departures without the need for physical passport verification. Individuals familiar with the matter have informed a leading media house that authentication will be facilitated through face recognition or fingerprints. 

Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia recently discussed plans with the chairman of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and CEOs of private airports. During these discussions, the possibility of utilising the DigiYatra app for the new system was explored. Currently used by domestic air passengers for a paperless process, the DigiYatra project is managed by the Digi Yatra Foundation, a private non-profit body owned by AAI and private airports. 

Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO of Digi Yatra Foundation, stated that they are working on a prototype for electronic passport-based enrolment, with testing already underway. The plan includes collaboration with the Bureau of Immigration and visa-issuing agencies to extend this service to international visitors traveling to and from India. 

For first-time visitors to India, enrolment and immigration clearance with iris, facial and fingerprint biometrics would be required at manual counters. Subsequent trips could utilise automated clearance routes, with iris and facial biometrics clearance at manual counters if the same passport is used. 

Initially, this system will be rolled out for international passengers and access for Indian citizens will be granted once the government begins issuing e-passports. The introduction of e-passports is expected to reduce the necessity for passengers to repeatedly present their travel documents at various touchpoints, offering a more seamless and convenient travel experience. 

Officials from the Ministry of External Affairs revealed plans to issue e-passports to Indians starting this year. These passports will be a combination of paper and electronic, featuring a Radio Frequency Identification chip and antenna embedded in the back cover. The critical information will be printed on the data page and stored in the chip. 

The government's broader initiative involves transforming Indian airports into major international hubs, offering single-point international connectivity for the entire South Asian region. Addressing long queues at immigration counters is a key focus and the proposed policy, requiring Cabinet approval, aims to ease security and immigration bottlenecks, allocate international flying rights and build necessary infrastructure to compete with global transit hubs like Dubai and Singapore.