New Delhi: Digi Yatra, the face-scan biometric technology facilitating airport passage without traditional documents, has garnered a substantial 1.4 crore users within 14 months since its December 2022 launch. Delhi and Bengaluru emerge as frontrunners, hosting the highest number of Digi Yatra users, according to sources from the civil aviation ministry.

The technology, available at 13 airports nationwide, has witnessed a steady rise in usage despite increasing passenger traffic and longer queues. As of February 10, the Digi Yatra app recorded 46 lakh downloads, marking a 20% increase from 38 lakh users in January.

Furthermore, plans are afoot to launch the digital technology in 25 more India's airports in the calendar year 2024. 

The DigiYatra is an industry-led initiative co-ordinated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Digital India’s vision to transform the nation into a digitally empowered society. "The Digi Yatra has brought ease of travel, reducing waiting time at the airports for necessary clearances. Digital technology has increased credibility and comfort," said Modi.  

Extolling the huge achievements in the ease of travel, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said, "The Digi Yatra has further enhanced ease of travel, which is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a digitally empowered nation. The resounding success of the App is an indication of growing acceptance of digitalisation among the air travellers. In the calendar year 2024, following the huge success of the App, we are going to launch it at 25 more airports."

A game-changer in airport experience

Digi Yatra, initially launched at Delhi, Bengaluru, and Varanasi, was expanded to Vijayawada, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, and later, Mumbai in August 2023 (limited to Terminal 2). Mumbai's Terminal 2 has already seen close to 3 lakh users using the technology.

Passenger testimonials highlight the exclusive gates and shorter waiting times offered by Digi Yatra. Social media posts showcase stark contrasts between conventional gates and Digi Yatra gates, emphasizing the time-saving benefits of the technology.

Bridging the future of air travel

Conceived for contactless and seamless passenger processing through Facial Recognition Technology (FRT), Digi Yatra requires one-time registration on the App, utilising Aadhar-based validation and self-image capture for enhanced security.

The App ensures privacy with no central storage of Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Passenger data is securely stored in the user's smartphone wallet using blockchain technology, purged from servers within 24 hours, ensuring data security and privacy.

A testament to resilience

The domestic aviation sector showcases a remarkable 42.85% annual growth, reaching 503.92 lakhs, demonstrating the robustness and resilience of India's aviation industry. From January to September 2023, domestic airlines experienced a 29.10% increase, carrying 112.86 million passengers.

International travel also witnessed a significant uptick, with a 39.61% rise, underscoring the growing demand for air travel in India. These figures indicate the positive trajectory of the aviation sector, reflecting industry efforts to enhance connectivity and provide convenient travel options for the nation's citizens. /BI