Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah, along with Union Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, reviewed passenger facilities, security arrangements and immigration systems at major airports across the country. The meeting was attended by the Union Home Secretary, Director of the Intelligence Bureau, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Chairman of the Airports Authority of India and other senior officials from the Ministries of Home Affairs and Civil Aviation.
During the review, Shah directed that the Automatic Tray Retrieval System (ATRS) be installed in a phased manner at airports across the country to improve efficiency and reduce human resource costs. He also asked the Ministry of Civil Aviation to establish standards for installing ATRS at all new airports.
The Home Minister instructed officials to develop a comprehensive framework covering airport entry lanes, check-in counters, security screening lanes and immigration counters to ensure seamless passenger movement at every touchpoint. He said a coordinated plan had been prepared to prevent bottlenecks and improve passenger flow.
Shah also directed that the 21 airports currently under development, along with 41 other airports, be prioritised based on passenger traffic and upgraded in line with security standards prescribed by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). He said the objective was to enhance passenger convenience while ensuring commercial areas remained within prescribed norms, and directed that work at all 62 airports be completed within the next two years.
The Home Minister further asked the Ministry of Civil Aviation to frame norms for the number of aerobridges at airports based on passenger and air traffic. He also directed that the baggage drop facility, currently available at 16 major airports, be extended to other international airports with high passenger traffic.
On airport security, Shah said there should be no dilution of the educational qualifications prescribed for CISF personnel deployed for X-ray screening. He directed that only officers and personnel meeting the required qualifications be assigned to such duties.
Reviewing immigration infrastructure, Shah said Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) offices should be operational at the headquarters of all states by 2027. He also directed that authorised immigration checkpoints at Agartala and Jewar airports be made operational at the earliest.
To promote the Fast Track Immigration–Trusted Travellers’ Programme (FTI-TTP), Shah asked officials to coordinate with airlines to send WhatsApp messages to passengers booking international tickets, encouraging them to register for the programme.
The Home Minister also directed the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the CISF to independently commission third-party studies during peak travel seasons to assess passenger delays and recommend measures to reduce waiting times at major airport touchpoints.
