Real-time trials of full-body scanner begin at IGI airport
HT Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Officials of Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport operator Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said they began trials of a fullbody scanner at Terminal 2 from Tuesday in line with directives issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).
Aviation security regulator BCAS had in April 2019 directed 84 sensitive airports across the country to install body scanners by March 2020, replacing existing door frame metal detectors, hand-held scanners, and pat down searches of passengers to detect metallic objects.
“Walk-through metal detectors and hand-held metal detectors cannot detect nonmetallic weapons and explosives,” BCAS had said. “Body scanners detect both metallic and non-metallic items concealed on the body.”
The Airports Authority of India had in 2020 issued a tender to procure 198 body scanners for 63 airports following a circular to the effect by the BCAS, but the civil aviation ministry approved of buying only 98.
A full-body scanner is used to detect objects without making physical contact with or breaching the privacy of passengers. Officials said full-body scanners can detect non-metal objects, which are hard to detect with the conventional door frame metal detector (DFMD). Each scanner is expected to cost around ₹4 crore, including annual maintenance, the official said.
“DIAL has installed a fullbody scanner at the security check area for a trial. The trial will be conducted in realtime, i.e. passengers will pass through the scanner during security check before moving to the security hold area,” a DIAL spokesperson said, adding the trial will continue for 45 to 60 days.
During this period, feedback from all stakeholders — BCAS, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), DIAL, and passengers — will be collected. Once the trial is complete, the findings will then be shared with regulatory bodies for evaluation and to decide the next course of action.
“The new scanner installed at Delhi airport is based on millimeter-wave technology, which is accurate and has medical approval, poses no health risk, and does not invade passengers’ privacy,” a DIAL spokesperson added.