BENGALURU: Come March, security queues at the
Kempegowda International Airport (
KIA) won’t be segregated as per gender. Bangalore International Airport Limited (
BIAL) will introduce smart security lanes where men and
women passengers will no longer need to be screened at different locations.
“For the first time in India, men and women needn’t be security screened at different locations as passengers travelling with family will be screened together,” BIAL said on Monday.
BIAL, which operates KIA, has signed an agreement with UK-based Macdonald Humfrey (Automation) India Pvt Ltd to introduce smart security lanes-cumautomated tray retrieval system (ATRS).
Once fully operational, the passenger screening capacity is expected to be increased by over 50%. The smart lanes with ATRS will automatically return empty trays to the preparation area for passengers to place their bags and belongings, ending the hassle of looking for trays and also preventing empty ones from piling up. The automated rollers will enable the trays to automatically move into the screening machine, without passengers or staff having to push them in.
The automated lanes will be installed in the domestic and international checkpoints by the year-end. “Replacement of existing manual lanes will be undertaken in a phased manner to ensure minimal disruption to airport operations. The project will be completed by March 2019,” the release said.
“This advanced technology will bring down waiting time for passengers at security checkpoint and improve passenger experience,” said a statement from BIAL.
“The new system will accelerate the process of human and carry-on luggage screening by reducing waiting time and congestion, offering an easy and efficient travel experience for passengers,” it added.
“With the smart security lane, we can process more passengers in a secure and controlled environment, improving overall operational efficiency and enhancing safety and security,” said Javed Malik, COO, BIAL.
“Having installed similar solutions in many European, West Asian, North America and south-east Asian airports, Macdonald Humfrey has the expertise to implement this project at the Bengaluru airport, and will play a huge role in reshaping aviation security in India,” said Mick Macdonald, president Macdonald Humfrey (Automation) Ltd.