Implement biometric screening at airports to reduce long queues: Parliamentary Panel

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has recently allowed 100 percent of passenger capacity in domestic and international airports after the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. However, several airports in the country have reported long queues during peak hours of flight operations.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture submitted its reports in the parliament during the just concluded budget session and recommended non-intrusive screening entry inside the airports.

The Committee believes that the present system of DFMD or HHMD, besides being obsolete technology, is intrusive on the privacy of passengers. 

Besides, the number of frisking counters may also be increased at airports and adequately trained personnel should be posted to man these counters effectively, said the report. In view of the increasing crowd at airports across the country, the parliamentary panel in its report suggested introducing biometric facilities and retinal scanners for the identification of passengers to avoid crowding.

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday (April 18) expressed confidence about India's aviation industry getting back to the normal pre-pandemic level. The aviation industry of India touched over four lakh domestic passengers in a day on April 18.