Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah and Union Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu conducted a comprehensive review of passenger facilities, security arrangements, and immigration systems at major airports. The meeting was attended by senior officials including the Union Home Secretary, Director of Intelligence Bureau, Secretary of Ministry of Civil Aviation, Director General of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and Chairman of Airports Authority of India.
Minister Shah directed the phased installation of an Automated X-ray Tray Return System (ATRS) at all airports across the country to reduce human resource costs, with appropriate standards established for new airports. A comprehensive framework will be developed to manage interdependence between entry lanes, check-in counters, security screening lanes, and immigration counters to ensure seamless passenger movement without disruption at any touch-point.
Significant infrastructure development was prioritized with 62 airports identified for completion within the next two years - comprising 21 airports currently under development and 41 additional airports. Development will be prioritized based on passenger traffic while adhering to security standards prescribed by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), ensuring passenger convenience while maintaining commercial areas within prescribed norms.
Additional directives included establishing norms for aerobridge numbers based on passenger and air traffic, extending baggage drop facilities from the current 16 major airports to other high-traffic international airports, and maintaining educational qualifications for CISF personnel deployed for X-ray screening without dilution.
Immigration system enhancements include making Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) offices operational at all State Headquarters by 2027 and establishing authorized immigration checkpoints at Agartala and Jewar airports at the earliest. To popularize the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Travellers' Programme (FTI-TTP), a mechanism will be established in coordination with airlines to send WhatsApp messages to passengers at the time of international ticket booking, encouraging registration on the portal.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and CISF were directed to commission separate third-party studies during peak travel season to assess and reduce passenger delays at all touch-points across major airports.