KOCHI: The

Limited (Cial) will soon implement e-boarding system to offer its passengers a seamless, paperless and hassle-free transit through all major check points — terminal entry, security check,

, and aircraft boarding — at the airport. The system aimed at improving passenger experience by facilitating paperless travel and avoiding identity check at multiple points will reduce waiting time in queues as they can walk through e-gates swiftly. Moreover, it will enhance

of airport authorities as ticket counterfeiting can be checked completely through e-tickets with unique barcodes thereby preventing illegal entry into the terminal.

Cial authorities have initiated the tendering process to implement the project which is in line with the central government’s DigiYatra initiative that envisages the digital processing of passengers at the airports. According to Cial sources, the project will be implemented in a phased manner and the first phase, which intends to strengthen access control, paperless boarding and reduce human intervention in identity check, is expected to be active within five months. The second and third phases will be more advanced by adding biometric-based boarding (facial recognition) and establishing the concept of connected airports.

“Physical examination of boarding pass and identity cards at multiple checkpoints is the most time-consuming process at airports. As Cial’s passenger traffic is increasing constantly, there will be serpentine queues at checkpoints giving passengers a tough time. Hence, it is inevitable for us to take requisite measures to enhance our services. E-boarding will play a crucial role in it and we are implementing it in a brisk pace,” said Cial spokesperson P S Jayan.

All the e-tickets provided by airlines or ticket facilitator applications have a 2D/QR barcode following the concept ‘One person, One Ticket & One Code’. Each passenger, even in a group booking, will be issued with individual ticket having unique code, which is linked to the server of airlines, security agencies, customs and airport authorities. It will be only a matter of seconds for the system to compare the details in ticket and ID and give clearance.

“The passenger only has to flash the boarding pass in mobile phone at a scanner placed at the security area for frisking. Once the machine approves the ticket and identity, CISF personnel will let the passenger pass through a terminal before frisking. In this method, those using fake tickets could be caught easily. At present anybody can create a paper ticket and use an ID to enter the terminal. Once e-boarding is implemented only bonafide passengers will be allowed entry,” an official said.

In the second phase, which has facial recognition-based entry, passengers will have the opportunity to create unique DigiYatra IDs using a valid government ID proof. Once that’s done, passengers have to complete a one-time verification process at the airport and the ID will be linked to face scan.