The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Aviation held a high‑level review of passenger facilities, security and immigration at major Indian airports. Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu gave clear directives to upgrade infrastructure, streamline passenger flow and strengthen security.
Key Developments
- Installation of Automatic tray retrieval system (ATRS) at all airports in a phased manner.
- Formulation of a coordinated plan covering entry lanes, check‑in counters, security screening lanes and immigration counters to ensure seamless passenger movement.
- Prioritisation of development for the 21 airports under construction and the remaining 41 operational airports based on passenger traffic, adhering to standards of the BCAS.
- Setting norms for the number of aerobridges and extending baggage‑drop facilities beyond the 16 major airports.
- Ensuring that X‑ray screening staff from the CISF meet prescribed educational qualifications.
- Operationalising FRRO offices at all state headquarters by 2027.
- Establishing authorised immigration check‑points at Agartala and Jewar airports at the earliest.
- Promoting the FTI‑TTP by sending WhatsApp prompts to passengers at ticket booking.
Important Facts
- Total airports covered: 62 (21 under development, 41 existing).
- Target for completing upgrades at all airports: within two years from the meeting.
- Current baggage‑drop facilities: available at 16 major airports; to be extended to other high‑traffic international airports.
- FRRO operationalisation deadline: 2027.
- Third‑party studies to be commissioned during peak travel season to assess passenger delays.
Exam Relevance
These directives illustrate inter‑ministerial coordination (Home, Civil Aviation, and security agencies) – a core aspect of governance studied in GS 2. The focus on infrastructure standards, passenger‑flow management and security staffing links to topics in GS 3 (transport, aviation, and public‑sector efficiency). Understanding schemes like FTI‑TTP helps answer questions on e‑governance and citizen‑centric services.
Way Forward
- Monitor implementation of ATRS and ensure uniform standards across new and existing airports.
- Track progress of FRRO offices and immigration checkpoints to meet the 2027 deadline.
- Evaluate the impact of FTI‑TTP on passenger processing times through the commissioned studies.
- Review CISF recruitment criteria regularly to maintain high security standards.
- Encourage state governments to cooperate in airport‑area development, aligning with national security and economic goals.