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International travellers at Kochi airport will soon experience a faster immigration process. Special smart gates will allow self-authentication, reducing the time to just 20 seconds. This initiative is part of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs' 'Fast Immigration — Trusted Traveller Programme' (FTI-TTP).
The Kochi airport, managed by Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), is set to become the second airport in India to implement this programme after Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. The FTI-TTP aims to expedite immigration for eligible Indian nationals and foreign nationals with OCI cards.
Biometric Authentication for Faster Processing
CIAL Managing Director S. Suhas stated, "Implementing FTI-TTP at CIAL's immigration counter will ensure a fast, safe, and seamless process. CIAL is proud to collaborate with the Bureau of Immigration to facilitate fast-track biometric smart travel at our immigration counters. The biometric authentication process will reduce the immigration verification process time from 4 minutes to just 20 seconds."
Following its introduction at Delhi International Airport in June, CIAL has started upgrading its infrastructure. Eight lanes have been dedicated to biometric e-gates in the immigration area. These fast-track gates will be installed this week, with testing beginning on Monday and an official launch planned for next month.
One-Time Registration Process
To use these smart gates, travellers must complete a one-time registration on the MHA portal. They need to upload necessary documents and enroll their biometrics (fingerprint and face image) at the Foreigner's Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or help desks in the immigration area. After successful verification through mobile OTP, travellers can bypass long queues by self-scanning their passports and using face recognition.
The Bureau of Immigration at Cochin International Airport has already set up an enrollment facility at the FRRO office within the airport premises and help desks in the immigration area.
Kochi Airport's Growing Traffic
Kochi airport is India's fourth busiest for international passenger traffic, handling 10 million passengers and 70,200 air traffic movements annually. Recently, it also implemented the DigiYatra facility developed by its in-house IT team.
This new system eliminates human interaction during immigration checks, making travel more efficient for passengers. With these advancements, Kochi airport continues to enhance its services for international travellers.
