‘Digi yatra’ facility likely to take off in 2 months: Prabhu

The civil aviation ministry’s proposed “digi yatra” facility, which seeks to make flying speedy and hassle-free, is expected to be rolled out in the next two months, Union Minister Suresh Prabhu has said.

The initiative, “digi yatra”, seeks to minimise paperwork for air travel under a digital system for airport entry and boarding flights using a passenger’s Aadhaar number and mobile phone. Under the system, the civil aviation ministry is looking to make ticket booking, airport entry and boarding pass security check-in digital.

“We are coming out with an absolute futuristic system, called digi yatra. Hopefully, this will be launched in the next two months itself,” Prabhu, the civil aviation minister, said at an even here on Saturday evening. With this system (digi yatra), a passenger’s biometrics such as your facial or iris will be captured once he enters the airport and the person will be able to go through a full-life cycle of travel barring security, he said. Prabhu was, however, quick to add the government will ensure the Supreme Court’s privacy guidelines are not violated.

“It will not just be Aadhaarbased. It will be any identity. Once you are able to establish your identity you will be able to enter (the airport) entire life cycle of it. If somebody does not want to reveal identity he can go through the normal process. So we will not be violating guidelines (on privacy) of the Supreme Court,” he said.