By Ameya Joshi
In 2023, a new initiative of the Indian Government named Digi Yatra started at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 3. A government-backed initiative sees a new company named DigiYatra Foundation co-owned by Airports Authority of India (AAI), DIAL, MIAL, BIAL, GHIAL and Cochin International Airport. It is a not-for-profit company.
Digi Yatra, a groundbreaking initiative by the Indian government, is poised to transform the air travel experience in the country. This digital platform leverages advanced facial recognition technology to streamline the check-in and security processes, offering a seamless and efficient journey for passengers. At the heart of Digi Yatra lies its facial recognition system. Passengers need to enroll their biometric data, including a selfie and Aadhaar card details, on the Digi Yatra app or website. This one-time enrollment process enables the system to recognize and verify their identity at various stages of the travel journey. When a passenger arrives at the airport, they can simply use their Digi Yatra app to check in for their flight. The facial recognition cameras at the check-in counter will instantly verify their identity, eliminating the need for manual document checks. This not only speeds up the check-in process but also reduces the risk of human error. The implementation of Digi Yatra offers several advantages to both passengers and airports. For passengers, it means a faster and more convenient travel experience. The elimination of manual checks and reduced waiting times allow passengers to spend less time at the airport and more time enjoying their journey. Additionally, Digi Yatra promotes contactless travel, reducing the risk of virus transmission and enhancing overall safety.
While this sounds very futuristic, the challenge has been implementation and its speed which has been remarkably slow for the IT powerhouse that India is. The rollout has taken exceptionally long. Even at places where the rollout has been done, it is not truly complete since boarding via Digi Yatra is not a reality yet. So far this has helped get special lines at entry and security as an incentive to move to Digi Yatra, but they would go away when everyone or a very large population shifts to it.
Digi Yatra also came in for some criticism when the users had to discard the old app and download new ones with new registration, raising concerns on security and a lot of theories being propagated on why this needed to be done. As the application and concept see more and more use
Can Digi Yatra go International?
One of the arguments for the success of Air India in the longer run is the need for non-stop flights where Indians do not want the hassle of navigating through hubs. For a growing economy with aims to be a five trillion-dollar economy, travel will be integral and international hubs accepting DigiYatra will make a remarkable difference in acceptance.
India should be ready to fund this initiative since it will give a global standing to India’s indigenous technology and solutions. Built to be primarily English, there is a need for cross-cultural and linguistic barriers so that different languages and customs can gel well. Data privacy like hosting data in country-specific servers may be needed, along with integrations with different systems and software.
While a lot of challenges remain, it could streamline the travel experience, reduce waiting times, and enhance security. By fostering international collaboration and addressing key concerns, DigiYatra has the potential to revolutionize air travel worldwide.
Tail Note
India may have arrived late to the aviation party, but the last decade has been phenomenal in terms of growth. From the privatization of Air India, where the government became an enabler for the sector rather than being part of it, to taking privatization ahead and formulating regulatory policies like RCS-UDAN, the government has done some of its bit. Airlines did the rest by placing record orders and expanding to newer shores.
The next phase will see digitization on one side and environmental protection on another. The government is already investing through one of the Oil companies to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) near Delhi. Digitization is where DigiYatra fits in well. Like India has taken the QR code-enabled payment to the world one step at a time, DigiYatra could be its equivalent in the aviation ecosystem.
However, the entire ecosystem comprising the government, Digi Yatra foundation, Airports and Airlines will have to strive hard to implement Digi Yatra at most airports in India and showcase the benefits from entry to boarding and exit at destination.
Ameya Joshi is an aviation analyst and columnist who runs the analysis website Network Thoughts.
