The concept of DigiYatra app created by The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) and DigiYatra Foundation by the adaptation of facial recognition technology which is a novel concept in India. It offers contactless passenger identification at airports allowing users to board flights faster at airports and save time while travelling!!l
Although facial recognition technology is present in quite a few large airports like Dubai, Atlanta, Singapore still it is not as smooth as DigiYatra.
In an interview, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia mentioned that after the usage of the app, the experience of travel has highly improved due to a total reduction of 40% in time for both passengers and aircrafts in terms of boarding. And given the fact that the app has been downloaded 300,000 times proves that the adoption rate to this new app has been tremendous.
How To Get The App
The DigiYatra app is a free app that is available for both Android and iOS phones and can be downloaded on any smartphone with Google Play Store.
The app cuts down on time spent at security checks, boarding gates, and airport entry points by allowing for contactless identification. In fact, there is a separate line for passengers who have checked-in with DigiYatra app.
How Does The DigiYatra App Work?
DigiYatra uses a facial recognition system (FRS) to verify identity of the travellers. As a result, airport entrance, pre-security check, and boarding gates now takes lesser time to get through.
When passengers’ login and information such as their name, email address, mobile number, and specifics of an identification (Aadhaar, driving license, voter ID etc.) are entered, a DigiYatra ID will be generated; it must be shared when purchasing tickets. The departing airport will receive this ID and the passenger data from the airlines.
DigiYatra Enabled Airports And Airlines
Airports
Currently DigiYatra App is operational in three Indian airports, providing seamless entry and embarkation process. These include-
- Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Delhi
- Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi
- Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru
Airports under DigiYatra will be extended to four more cities: Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, and Vijayawada March 2023 and eventually will be rolled out in all other cities.
Airlines
At present, Air India, Vistara and IndiGo are part of DigiYatra. GoFirst and Spicejet are also looking forward to join the gateway soon.
How To use DigiYatra facility?
It is easier when Aadhaar-based verification is chosen by the passenger as the identity will be verified online. But, if the passenger has selected any other proof of identity, then the verification will be done manually by security personnel at the airport.
Like mentioned before there is a separate line for DigiYatra users to scan the barcoded boarding pass at the airport e-gate; the facial recognition system then verifies your identity and the travel document. After which, the passenger gets to enter and proceed as usual to get through security.
With the introduction of DigiYatra app, aviation industry has definitely set the bar high, but it is yet to be seen how very seamless the transition from manual to digital security is going to be.
So, how many of you have tried the DigiYatra app and how smooth has it made your travel? Please leave a comment below.
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