FULL BODY SCANNERS and computer tomography X-ray (CTX) scanners, awaited for long, are likely to be installed by May 2024 at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, according to Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) Director General Zulfiquar Hasan.
The scanners, which are already in place at numerous airports globally, allow faster and rigorous screening of passengers than metal detectors and manual frisking. CTX scanners are used to screen cabin or carry-on baggage and do not require passengers to segregate electronic devices and liquids separately for screening. Together, the two machines are expected to reduce time taken in passengers’ security check before departure, which is likely to play a part in easing congestion and wait time at busy airports.
Earlier this year, the BCAS had directed all airports handling over 1 crore passengers and 50 lakh passengers annually to install full body scanners and CTX scanners, respectively, by December 31. However, certain “provisioning issues” have delayed the process and the first scanners are now expected only by May starting with the IGI Airport.
The IGI Airport, operated by GMR, is India’s busiest airport. In 2022-23 (FY23), it handled over 6.5 crore passengers and for FY24, the number of flyers is estimated to cross 7 crore. The airport is also undergoing an expansion project, which will soon take its annual passenger handling capacity to over 10 crore. The Delhi airport was ranked among the ten busiest airports globally for 2022 by Airports Council International (ACI), a trade association of airports.
Explained
Easing, upgrading security
BODY and CTX scanners in big airports with huge footfall will not only ease congestion and reduce delays, but also ensure more complete and comprehensive security than what metal detectors and manual frisking achieve.
Hasan said that going forward, instead of issuing a blanket deadline for installation of these machines, the BCAS will proceed airport-wise as the machines are being bought by airport operators through contracts with foreign manufacturers, making their procurement prone to delays due to the prevalent supply chain issues globally.
Additionally, some airports had requested the BCAS to reconsider the December 31 deadline as they were still in the process of deciding on their requirement of CTX scanners and the modalities of installing the machines at airport terminals.
Although this was the first instance of a deadline being handed out for CTX scanners, several deadlines for installation of full body scanners at major Indian airports had lapsed over the past three years, mainly due to the impact of the COVID pandemic. With India’s air passenger traffic exceeding pre-pandemic levels, the need for expeditious installation of these machines at congested airports is being felt.
As per passenger traffic data from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), seven airports handled over 1 crore passengers in FY23. These were Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolakata, and Ahmedabad. Airports that handled between 50 lakh and 1 crore passengers in FY23 include Goa, Lucknow, Guwahati, Kochi, and Pune.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd Sukalp Sharma 
Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. Before joining The Indian Express, Sukalp had long and enriching stints at financial newswire Informist and the Express Group’s pink paper The Financial Express. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. … Read More