Nagpur airport rolls out single-step face recognition at DigiYatra gates

Entry for passengers at Nagpur's Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport is set to become faster and simpler. GMR Nagpur International Airport Limited has made a major change to its DigiYatra system, rolling out single-step face recognition technology at all DigiYatra gates.

Under the new system, there will no longer be a separate step to scan the boarding pass or QR code at the gate. Earlier, after registering on the DigiYatra app, passengers had to add their boarding pass to it. On reaching the airport, the boarding pass or QR code was scanned at the gate first, after which the camera would recognise the passenger's face and open the e-gate. This meant passengers had to go through two separate steps.

The new system removes this extra step. Passengers will still need to register on the DigiYatra app and share their boarding pass on it. Once this is done, as soon as a passenger reaches the DigiYatra gate, the camera will recognise their face, and the e-gate will open automatically once it matches the available information.

Airport management expects the new facility to reduce queues at the gates and cut passengers' waiting time. The journey from the gate to the security checking area in particular is expected to be completed faster, making the overall passenger experience at the airport smoother.

The CEO of GMR Nagpur said the single-step face recognition facility in the DigiYatra system is an important step towards improving the passenger experience. The verification process has been made simpler by reducing human involvement, they said. Their aim is to give passengers a safe, efficient and contactless travel experience, the CEO said. According to the CEO, removing the boarding pass scan step under the new system will reduce both crowding and waiting time at the gates, easing the difficulty faced by passengers and adding convenience to their journey.