Plans to eliminate need for paper, extensive security checks

Walk into the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) without a ticket in hand. Use your biometrics as a ticket, scan your fingerprints for security; while airport cameras will process the features of your face as you stroll through the terminal and open the boarding gates for you. This is the technological leap Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL) is hoping to take within six months.

Kempegowda International Airport BIAL expects to spend ₹12,000 crore over the next 3.5 years

New runway To be launched in October 2019

It will have Cat IIIB system to eliminate fog delays

New terminal: Tentative deadline is June 2021; phase 1 can handle 25 million passengers additionally

Heli-taxis from February 21; fare: ₹3,500; one service from Electronics City

At an interaction with representatives of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) on Wednesday, Hari Marar, managing director and president of the BIAL, said their “exciting project” would use the “powerful tool” of Aadhaar identification to eliminate the need for paper and extensive security checks.

This is one of the projects being taken by the innovation centre developed by Accenture and BIAL. Trials had been conducted and showcased to Civic Aviation Ministry officials.

After a passenger links travel documents (tickets, for instance) with Aadhaar, machines within the airport can verify the biometric signature with the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) database as well as with the airlines. Within the airport, cameras can scan the face of the commuters and open boarding gates, said Mr. Marar.

“This sort of single-token system is being attempted at other international airports globally, but it will take them another six years to develop a biometric database of their passengers. We already have a database and can kickstart it within four to six months,” said Mr. Marar.

Meanwhile, the BIAL MD said technology would be imbibed further in the Vayu Vajra services operated by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). Flight information display systems have been installed, while check-in machines for printing boarding passes and luggage tags will be launched “soon” within the buses, he said.

This way, not only will the congestion in the airport would decrease, public transport would also be encouraged. “Within our app, we are developing a system to reward commuters who come by buses and transport. These reward points can be redeemed within the airport in the retail outlets,” said Mr. Marar.

Technology will remain one of the four themes of the new terminal expected to be operational from June 2021. The other themes are environment sustainability, incorporating the garden into the terminal design, and culture of Karnataka.