New Delhi, 08 July (H.S.):

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Wednesday reviewed passenger facilities, security arrangements and the immigration system at the country's major airports. During the meeting, several key decisions were taken to make passenger movement more seamless, secure and technologically advanced.

The meeting was attended by the Union Home Secretary, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and other senior officials from the Ministries of Home Affairs and Civil Aviation.

Amit Shah directed that the Automated Tray Return System (ATRS) be implemented in a phased manner at all airports across the country. He said the system would reduce dependence on manual resources while making the security screening process faster and more efficient. He also instructed that appropriate standards be established for installing the system at all newly developed airports.

The Home Minister further directed that an integrated framework be developed covering airport entry gates, check-in counters, security screening lanes and immigration counters to ensure uninterrupted passenger movement at every stage of the travel process. He said a coordinated plan had been prepared for every passenger touchpoint to eliminate bottlenecks and enhance the overall travel experience.

Shah instructed the Ministry of Civil Aviation to prioritise the development of 21 airports currently under construction and 41 additional airports identified for expansion based on passenger traffic. He directed that development work at all 62 airports be completed within the next two years while ensuring that security standards are not compromised and commercial areas remain within prescribed norms.

He also asked the Ministry to formulate standard guidelines for determining the number of aerobridges required at airports based on passenger and aircraft traffic. In addition, he directed that the baggage drop facility, currently available at 16 major airports, be extended to other international airports handling high passenger volumes.

The Home Minister emphasised that there should be no relaxation in the prescribed educational qualifications for CISF personnel deployed for X-ray screening operations. He said only officers and personnel possessing the required qualifications should be assigned to such critical responsibilities.

Shah further directed that Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) be established in the capitals of all states by 2027. He also instructed officials to operationalise authorised immigration check posts at Agartala and Jewar airports at the earliest.

To promote the Fast Track Immigration–Trusted Travellers Programme (FTI-TTP), Shah asked officials to develop a mechanism in collaboration with airlines under which international passengers would receive WhatsApp messages while booking their tickets, encouraging them to register on the programme's portal.

During the meeting, the Home Minister also instructed the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the CISF to commission separate studies through independent third-party agencies during peak travel seasons. These studies will assess passenger delays at all key touchpoints across major airports and recommend effective measures to minimise waiting times and further improve operational efficiency.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar