Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad is trialling facial recognition for passengers to get airside.
The trial uses facial recognition to check passengers when they scan their boarding pass to go airside at the terminal.
For the trial, an exclusive e-gate is available at the Departure Gate No 3. The enrolled passenger has their boarding card scanned and facial biometrics taken by a camera. The system matches and verifies the credentials along with the itinerary details. Upon successful verification, the e-gate opens and allows the passenger to enter the terminal.
During the trial, CISF personnel will still physically verify the travel docs and ID details of passenger at the departure gate.
To take part in the trial, passengers enrol their biometrics at a separate area, complete check-in and get a boarding pass.
Enrollment
To enrol, passengers can go to a facial recognition Registration Counter at the airport with a valid government ID, contact details and get their facial biometrics captured by the camera. THis process generates a DigiYatra ID that can be checked throughout the airport. A CISF person physically checks the applicant’s government ID proof and the successful verification.
Enrolment is a one-time activity and once the passenger is successfully enrolled, the DigiYatra ID is valid for subsequent travel during the trial period.
Eventually, facial recognition will be used to identify passengers at check points such as check-in, self bag drop, entry point check, entry to Security Check, border control and aircraft boarding.
The airport posted a video on YouTube showing the trial in operation.
The trial, in line with the central government’s signature DigiYatra programme, is due to end on 31 July.
On the first day, about 180 passengers enrolled voluntarily for DigiYatra at the Airport.
Currently, the trial involves passengers with hand baggage only who are flying to select cities — Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.
N.B. Image credit: YouTube/Rajiv Gandhi International Airport