Passengers can soon use Facial Recognition Biometric to enter airports under the Digi Yatra Initiative

Travellers may soon be able to enter the airports using facial recognition biometric system.

According to the Civil Aviation Minister, Suresh Prabhu, it is a "forward-looking and futuristic" initiative and will launch soon. He also declared that it would be a voluntary service and the passengers can opt for facial recognition biometric for air travel.

Under the facial recognition biometric, a passenger will have to create a Digi Yatra ID, after which he/she can travel hassle free anywhere in India. The Digi Yatra service is said to be operational by February 2019. 

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is already working towards making the country digital under his Digital India vision. The move comes as an extension of the government's efforts to digitize India. The recently launched Digi Yatra initiative seeks to promote a paperless and hassle-free air travel. It is aimed at bringing together the entire country to develop a digital space which would deliver smooth, seamless services during the journey.

The vision was Digi Yatra was unveiled in 2017 hoping that the initiative will transform the flying experience for passengers and position Indian Aviation amongst the most innovative air networks in the world. The initiative is based on four pillars: Connected Passengers, Connected Airports, Connected Flying and Connected Systems.

The Ministery for Civil Aviation reportedly said that the Digi Yatra is a pioneering step that envisions to ease airline travel in India and provide a 'digitally unified flying experience'. The ministry said that the fliers would receive notifications regarding their journey and related flight information. It would also have interactive online kiosks and augmented reality applications. It would have features where a passenger can directly share his experience, feedback and grievances.  

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The digital processing system would ease the passenger entry and the related requirements at the airports in the country. Currently, the passenger has to show his travel ticket along with an identity proof like the aadhar card, pan card or a passport. The technology is under trial at world's major airports like Heathrow, Los Angeles, and Orlando.