India to roll out airport scanners that will cut security check time for passengers by 50%

To make security checks quicker and error-free at India's busiest airports, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) is all set to deploy body scanners that will cut down the passenger frisking time by half.

A senior AAI official said, "Presently, it takes around 30 seconds on average to frisk a passenger manually but with the deployment of these millimetre-wave technology-based full-body scanners, the same can be done in 15 seconds."

He further said that the use of these body scanners has been approved after a trial conducted at the busiest airports like Delhi and Bengaluru.

The observation of trials was passed to the Bureau of Civil Aviation and Security (BCAS) and after detailed meetings, approval and specification have been made.

"During trials of full body scanners, there were glitches of false alarm and were unable to detect certain objects. It has been overcome and new trials were successful as per the requirement of security agencies functioning at airports", the official added.

"Unlike the metal detector, the millimetre-wave based full body scanner will help to detect any liquid or plastic hidden underneath the clothes of the passenger. It works on the principle of body contours and is designed to detect objects that could be concealed in the body," the official said, explaining the functioning.

He added that AAI will be installing 131 full-body scanners at various airports operated by AAI.

"The number of full body scanners at each airport will depend upon the passenger load. The approved body scanners are accurate, comply with privacy concerns and pose no risk to health. It will ensure faster and accurate security clearance, resulting in smooth security checks to passengers," said the official.

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