Cochin Airport to Implement MHA Trusted Traveller Programme by August 2024

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) will be the second airport in India to implement the Ministry of Home Affairs Trusted Traveller Programme, with an expected launch in August 2024. The programme facilitates a seamless immigration process using biometric e-gates, reducing verification time significantly.

The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) is set to become the second airport in India to implement the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Trusted Traveller Programme, streamlining immigration with self-authentication at smart gates. This cutting-edge facility will launch by August 2024, according to CIAL.

The state-of-the-art smart gates will allow international travellers to complete the immigration process by themselves in just 20 seconds, thanks to eight dedicated biometric e-gates in the immigration area. This innovation follows a similar implementation at Delhi International Airport in June.

The MHA's Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Travellers' Programme (FTI-TTP) aims to expedite immigration clearance for eligible Indian and foreign nationals holding OCI cards. After a one-time registration and biometric enrollment, travellers can use the smart gates, bypassing long queues by self-scanning their passports and using face recognition technology. This eliminates the need for human interaction during immigration checks.

An enrollment facility and help desks are already established at CIAL, stated Managing Director S Suhas IAS. He noted that the biometric system will reduce immigration verification time from four minutes to just 20 seconds, enhancing the overall travel experience and ensuring safety.

Handling 10 million passengers and 70,200 air traffic movements annually, CIAL is the fourth busiest airport for international traffic in India. The airport has also rolled out the Digiyatra facility and has several modernization projects, including a Perimeter Intrusion Detection System. The fast-track gates will be tested starting Monday, with an official launch set for August 2024.

(With inputs from agencies.)