These 4 Indian Airports Will Have Facial Recognition; Data Will Be Deleted In 24 Hours

By Malvika Gurung Last updated Dec 3, 2021

The Airports Authority of India has been working on a project of FRT-based Biometric Boarding System.

Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) is highly looked forward to, after the Indian government announced incorporating the technology in the country’s airports.

On answering a question posed by two ministers of Parliament in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation General V K Singh (retd) said that while the FRT has not yet been introduced at any of the airports in India, four airports in the country will house the technology in March 2022.

Govt on Launching FRT in Indian Airports

In a question posed by MPs Feroze Varun Gandhi and Ram Shankar Katheria in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, V K Singh, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation General responded that the Airports Authority of India has been working on a project of FRT-based Biometric Boarding System.

It is being developed as part of the first phase of Digi Yatra Implementation and the technology will be launched at four Indian airports, Varanasi, Pune, Kolkata, and Vijayawada.

The Digi Yatra Central Ecosystem is pegged to launch in March 2022, and the government plans to scale it up in a phased manner to adopt it across different airports in the country.

Is Data Sharing Compulsory?

On being questioned about the safety of passenger data on the Digi Yatra Central Ecosystem and the measures taken by the Government to protect the data from leaking, Singh responded that registering on the Digi Yatra Central Ecosystem is completely optional for a passenger.

Those wanting to avail Digi Yatra’s services will have to send their details including Pax details, PNR and Facial Biometrics through an app to the Biometric Boarding System of the respective departing airport, states a HT report.

However, it is not compulsory for any passenger to provide their travel information on the ecosystem.

Data shared by the Passenger is to be used for the purpose defined and would not be shared with any other external stakeholders. It is important to note that data shared by passengers is to be retained during the transit of the passenger at the airport and will not be retained for more than 24 hours after Take-off/departure of the flight, added the minister.