Highlights
- CISF is mulling 3D hand bag scanners in which won’t need flyers to take laptops, liquids etc out for checks
- The technology has so far been tested at airports like New York’s JFK hub and Amsterdam’s Schiphol
- Last year, CISF had raised a red flag over increasing rush at choked airports
There’s probably some good news in sight for frequent fliers. Airports in India could soon be testing a new screening technology that gives a 3D view of what’s inside your bag, which means you don’t have to remove everything you are carrying at the security checkpoint.
According to a TOI report, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the agency in charge of security at Indian airports, plans to test the technology and then hopefully use it at the busiest airports here.
The technology has so far been tested at airports like New York’s JFK hub and Amsterdam’s Schiphol. London Heathrow is currently conducting trials. UK’s department for transport says if “successful, this could lead in future to passengers no longer needing to remove items from hand luggage for screening.” “We are studying this technology and the results of (trial runs) at those airports,” a senior CISF official told TOI.
Asked if CISF plans to test this technology at Indian airports, he added, “Yes… (we) will also need some changes in rules for physical checking of suspect hand bags. Being a potentially passenger-friendly move, a senior aviation ministry official termed the new technology being tested a “very good development”.
Since most Indian airports, both PPP metro and those run by Airports Authority of India, have failed to augment capacity in last few years that have seen number of air travellers grow manifold, serpentine queues at pre-embarkation security checks (PESC) have become a routine sight in peak travel hours.
“At several relatively small airports like Guwahati, we take out our laptop and tablet out of the hand bag and line them up separately for going through the hand bag scanner. It takes some time before we reach the other side of the scanner after being frisked and during this time my only thought is about getting my stuff and the same not being picked by someone else,” Delhi-based businessman Aman Varma who travels extensively for work told TOI.
Last year, CISF had raised a red flag over increasing rush at choked airports. “Total passenger traffic at all airports has increased by (over) 65% in last 5 years. However, this increase is skewed and is abnormally high during peak hours at certain airports… Despite this huge increase in (peak hour rush), the security infrastructure and manpower have remained the same, resulting in congestion at security check points and undue pressure on security personnel for speedy clearance,” CISF had said in a report titled “Future Projection September 2017”.
Since expanding existing terminals and building new airports takes years, only use of technology can help manage growing air traffic at our infra-starved airports.
