The Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel, Jyotiraditya M Scindia, recently chaired an Advisory Group Meeting with Airport Operators on December 19, 2023, ahead of the anticipated festive season. The primary focus was on strategising to prevent congestion at airports during this period. Scindia emphasised the ministry’s proactive measures to ensure a seamless and efficient travel experience for passengers.
During the meeting, the Minister engaged with airport operators, addressing their queries and offering guidance to optimise operations for passenger convenience. The key topic discussed was the promotion of ‘DigiYatra‘ to streamline and expedite the shift from manual to digital check-ins and entry gate processes.
Currently operational in 13 domestic airports, including Lucknow, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and others, the proposal to extend ‘DigiYatra’ to international passengers for both arrivals and departures was deliberated upon. The Minister urged airport operators to explore and present successful biometric-enabled models utilized in other countries to enhance passenger facilitation.
Further, Scindia also reviewed the Capital Expenditure targets of all airport operators, aligning these goals with the achieved results in the third quarter. Representatives from major airport operators such as GMR Airports, Adani Airports, BIAL, Cochin Airport, and the Airports Authority of India were present at this crucial meeting.
The newly constructed terminal boasts impressive capabilities, accommodating 1200 domestic and 600 international passengers during peak hours, with plans for potential expansion to handle up to 3000 passengers per hour and an annual capacity of 55 lakh passengers. Notably, the design incorporates local culture and heritage elements. This opening follows the Union Cabinet’s recent approval to declare Surat Airport as an International Airport.
In addition to the Advisory Group Meeting, the Minister chaired the Cargo Advisory Committee session on the same day. Discussions within this committee primarily revolved around bolstering collaboration within the cargo industry. Scindia reassured the committee members of the government’s commitment to proactively address concerns within the cargo sector and promote collaborative efforts among stakeholders. The necessity for a digital transformation in air cargo, incorporating elements like E-KYC and digital shipping invoices, was a key focus. The Minister urged the committee to devise a comprehensive action plan to explore and implement digital transformations in the industry.
