Mopa Airport introduces DigiYatra system

The Manohar International Airport, Mopa, became the 14th airport in India to launch the Digi Yatra system, which makes the travelling experience more seamless and convenient. The Digi Yatra system is already operational in 13 airports in India: Delhi, Bengaluru, Varanasi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Vijayawada, Pune, Mumbai, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Guwahati.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the DigiYatra system simultaneously on 1 December 2022 at the Indira Gandhi Airport in New Delhi, Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore, and Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi. 

What is the Digi Yatra System? 

The Digi Yatra is a biometric-enabled system that uses facial recognition technology to establish the passengers' identities and link them to their boarding passes. It automates the entry and verification of passengers at airport checkpoints, such as security, entry, and boarding passes.

Digi Yatra reduces waiting lines, quickens processing times, and simplifies procedures for the passengers.

The passenger has to download the DigiYatra APP on his/her mobile, which will be linked to his/her Aadhaar number. The passenger must create a Digi Yatra ID on his mobile phone, which will be used to buy the airline ticket. At the airport entrance, the passenger has to scan the barcode on the boarding pass. After confirmation, the Facial recognition system installed at the airport will confirm the passenger's identity and the entrance gate will open. There will be no manual checking.

Thus, it will lead to shorter waiting  times in lines, quicker processing times, and simpler procedures for the passengers.

Who has developed the Digi Yatra System?

DigiYatra is an initiative of the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to make airport travel more secure, seamless, and hassle-free. To develop the Digi Yatra system, the Airport Authority of India (AAI), Cochin International Airport (CIAL), Bangalore International Airport (BIAL), Delhi International Airport Ltd. (DIAL), Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (HIAL), and Mumbai International Airport Ltd. (MIAL) set up the DigiYatra Foundation in 2019.

The whole Digi Yatra system has been developed, installed and operated by the DigiYatra Foundation.

Manohar International Airport, Mopa

The Manohar International Airport is located in Mopa, North Goa. It was developed by GMR Goa International Airport Limited, a subsidiary of GMR Airports Limited. 

It was named after Manohar Parrikar, the former chief minister of Goa and former Union Defence Minister. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the Mopa airport on 11 December 2022. 

It is the second international airport in Goa. The first international airport in Goa is Dabolim. It is a civil enclave in a military airbase named INS Hansa of the Indian Navy.