The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has started testing the full-body scanner at Terminal 2 in accordance with the directive of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).
Objects can be detected using a full-body scanner, which doesn't touch people or intrude their privacy in any way. According to the DIAL, they are Millimeter Wave-based scanners that do not breach the privacy of passengers. According to the statement released by DIAL, “A full-body scanner is a device that detects objects, without making physical contact or breaching the privacy of passengers. Unlike metal detectors, full-body scanners can detect non-metal objects, which are hard to detect with the conventional door frame metal detector (DFMD).”
“The Delhi Airport has installed a full-body scanner at the security check area for trials. The trials would be conducted on a real-time basis, that is passengers would have to pass through it during their security check before moving to the security hold area,” it read.
“The real-time trials would be carried out for a period of 45 to 60 days. During this period, feedback of all the stakeholders, the BCAS, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the airport operator DIAL, and passengers, would be taken, examined, and evaluated,” the statement said. “Upon completion of trials, the findings would be shared with regulatory bodies for evaluation and the further course of action would be decided accordingly,” it stated.
“The new advanced scanner installed at Delhi Airport is a Millimeter-Wave based scanner, which was found to be accurate and has medical approvals regarding health risks, and completely answers privacy issues.
By scanning passengers at the airport, one can reveal anything hidden beneath their clothes and thus reduce the number of random pat-downs and strip searches. This saves personnel from an uncomfortable situation and speeds up security checks,” the DIAL further informed.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DIAL, Videh Kumar Jaipuriar said that aviation sector safety and security is a major concern for all. As an airport operator, DIAL has been constantly working to make the process smooth for passengers without compromising security and safety. “The CISF has been doing a tremendous job. Now, we have deployed one of the advanced full-body scanners at the airport.
It takes care of passengers’ privacy during security checks and hardly has any impact on their health.
After successful completion of trials, and evaluation of results, DIAL would install such scanner as per the BCAS directive,” Jaipuriar said.
The door-frame metal detectors would remain in place for special category passengers like those who are wheelchair-bound or those who cannot physically pass through the full-body scanners.