TNN | May 3, 2015, 03.02AM IST
HYDERABAD: If all goes well, the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad may soon have a 'hi-tech' e-boarding facility on offer for passengers. According to sources, the project, still at a nascent stage, will allow fliers to beat long-winding queues and reach the boarding gates in a matter of minutes.
The mandatory identification card (PAN, licence etc) too is likely to become obsolete.
While finer details of this mammoth project, the first of its kind in India, are still unclear, UIDAI officials confirm that they have tied up with airport authorities to implement Aadhaar-based identity checks at the entry gates.
Here's how it would work: Kiosks fitted with biometric systems will be placed at the entrance of the airport for the benefit of passengers with an Aadhaar card number. These kiosks will scan the fingerprint of an individual and immediately verify his/her credentials, complete with name and photograph. Once done, the flier can walk through the gate without showing any ID proof to the security personnel.
"The pilot will be based on Aadhaar's Electronic, Know Your Customer (e- KYC) service. We are providing all the necessary technical assistance to RGIA to get the system started," M V S Rami Reddy, deputy director-general for Aadhaar project told STOI.
As it turns out, the biometric kiosks will be connected to an e-KYC server of UIDAI at its Bangalore regional office that has details of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana residents. It will furnish real-time information, without any manual intervention. However, in the case of outstation passengers and foreign tourists, however, the system will not be applicable.
The objective behind the project, sources claim, is to put in place a smooth yet foolproof security system and help passengers cut short on the 'entry' time. "With ID cards, there is always scope for passengers to produce fake documents to gain entry. But with this Aadhaar e-KYC system in place, chances of fraud will be negligible. It's going to be a win-win situation for both passengers and security agencies," said Reddy. Digital company, Solace Systems, has been roped in for the project, UIDAI authorities said.
While a similar pilot project was launched at the Bangalore airport around six months ago, the system being initiated in Hyderabad is more expansive and involves multi-party participation, sources said. Also the Aadhaar link being explored at RGIA, for verification — has been phased out in the neighbouring state.
"In the city too, airport authorities are still believed to be in the process of ironing out technical concerns with Aadhaar authorities. We will have to wait and watch how the process is eventually implemented," said a source in the know of things.
The electronic Know Your Customer (e- KYC) was conceptualized by UIDAI, when Infosys CEO Nandan Nilekani was at the helm of affairs. The initiative was primarily designed to cut down on complicated documentation processes.
BLURB
Kiosks fitted with biometric systems will be placed at the airport entrance, where the fingerprint of passengers with Aadhaar cards would be scanned and credentials verified with UID details. The flier can then do away with other ID checks