Passengers at India’s airports will no longer have to go through physical frisking by hand, as the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has received clearance from the Public Investment Board (PIB) to install full-body scanners that will cut down the passenger frisking time by half. The full-body scanners, which use millimetre-wave technology, will be able to detect any liquid or plastic hidden underneath the clothes of the passengers, as well as any objects that could be concealed in the body.
The AAI had floated a tender in July 2023 to procure 131 full-body scanners and 600 new hand baggage scanners at over ₹ 1,000 crore at airports run by the AAI. However, it was later withdrawn as it needed clearance from PIB. The PIB gave its nod for the installation of full-body scanners in four airports that witness maximum footfall among all airports owned and managed by the AAI. These are Kolkata, Chennai, Pune and Goa airports.
The AAI will be installing 131 full-body scanners at these four airports in a phase-wise manner. The number of full-body scanners at each airport will depend upon the passenger load. The approved body scanners are accurate, comply with privacy concerns and pose no risk to health. They will ensure faster and accurate security clearance, resulting in smooth security checks to passengers.
The AAI had also announced in December 2018 that all domestic airports would install full-body scanners from 2019 onwards. However, due to some technical glitches and false alarms during trials conducted at various airports like Delhi and Bengaluru, some of these plans were delayed or modified. The AAI has now resolved these issues and is ready to roll out the full-body scanner facility across all its airports.
The use of full-body scanners is not new in India or other countries. Several countries like US, UK, Canada, Australia and Singapore have already installed these machines at their airports for enhanced security. However, some passengers may have concerns about their privacy or dignity while undergoing this process. The AAI has assured that it will follow all the guidelines and protocols issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) regarding this matter.
