Delhi Airport has started the trials of the full-body scanner on June 28th, 2022, at Terminal 2 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport. This is in line with the directive of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).
A full-body scanner is a device that detects objects without making physical contact or breaching the privacy of passengers. Unlike metal detectors, full-body scanners can detect non-metal objects, which are hard to detect with the conventional door frame metal detector (DFMD).
DIAL has installed the full-body scanner at the terminal 2 security check area for trials. The trials would be conducted on a real-time basis, i.e. passengers would have to pass through it during their security check before moving to the security hold area.
The real-time trials would be carried out for a period of 45 to 60 days. During this period, feedback from all the stakeholders—the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the airport operator DIAL, and passengers would be taken, examined, and evaluated. Upon completion of trials, the findings would be shared with regulatory bodies for evaluation, and the further course of action would be decided accordingly.
The new advanced scanner installed at Delhi Airport is a Millimeter-Wave based scanner, which is found to be accurate and has medical approval regarding health risks and thoroughly answers privacy issues.
By scanning passengers at the airport, one can reveal anything hidden beneath their clothes and thus reduce the number of random pat-downs and strip searches. This saves personnel from an uncomfortable situation and speeds up security checks.
The safety and security of civil aviation are a major concern for everyone at Delhi Airport. As an airport operator, DIAL has constantly been working to make the process smooth for passengers without compromising security and safety. The new advanced full-body scanner at the Delhi airport will take care of passengers’ privacy during security checks and will hardly impact their health.
The door-frame metal detectors would remain in place for special-category passengers like those who use a wheelchair or those who cannot physically pass through the full-body scanners.
