Stakeholders working to address tailgating issue

New Delhi: Stakeholders, including the Digi Yatra Foundation, are working on ways to address tailgating at airports through the Digi Yatra gates, an issue that has been flagged by aviation security watchdog BCAS, according to officials.

Digi Yatra, which uses Facial Recognition Technology (FRT), provides contactless and seamless entry into airports through e-gates. Broadly, tailgating refers to an additional person getting through a gate whereas the credentials for access have been used for only one person. As part of the routine review of various security aspects, an official in the know said the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has flagged tailgating at Digi Yatra gates and that discussions are going on to address the issue.

In a recent interview, Digi Yatra Foundation CEO Suresh Khadakbhavi told PTI that stakeholders are discussing the best way forward to address the issue of tailgating. Currently, Digi Yatra is available at 14 airports and is expected to be rolled out at 14 more airports by the end of April. When asked about tailgating, Khadakbhavi said it has to be ensured that there is a balance between passenger safety and security. If someone is tailgating, then technology can be used to stop it by closing the gate fast. However, it will be a problem if there is a genuine reason for the delay. The Digi Yatra gates are closed at an optimal speed and if it is closed fast, there could also be a chance of someone getting an injury, he noted.