New Delhi, July 8 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday directed that an Automated X-ray Tray Return System (ATRS) be installed at all airports across the country in a phased manner with the objective of reducing human resource costs.

He also said that appropriate standards should be laid down to ensure that Automated X-ray Tray Return System is installed at new airports.

He also directed that a comprehensive framework be developed by taking into account the interdependence between entry lanes, check-in counters, security screening lanes, and immigration counters at airports, so that passenger flow is not disrupted at any touch-point.

He said that a coordinated plan has been prepared for every touch-point at airports to ensure the seamless movement of passengers.

The directions were issued after the Union Home Minister held a meeting with Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and senior officials to review passenger facilities, security arrangements, and the immigration system at major airports.

Union Minister Shah also directed that the 21 airports currently under development and the remaining 41 airports be prioritised for development based on passenger traffic, in accordance with the security standards prescribed by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), with the objective of enhancing passenger convenience while ensuring that commercial areas remain within the prescribed norms.

He directed that the work at all 62 airports be completed within the next two years.

Union Minister Amit Shah also directed the Ministry of Civil Aviation to lay down norms for the number of aerobridges at all airports based on passenger traffic and air traffic.

He said that the baggage drop facility, currently available at the 16 major airports, be extended to other international airports with high passenger traffic as well.

Union Minister Shah added that there should be no dilution in the educational qualifications prescribed for the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel deployed for X-ray screening.

He also directed that officers and personnel possessing the requisite educational qualifications be assigned to X-ray screening duties.

Union Minister Shah also said that Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) offices should be made operational at the headquarters of all states by 2027.

He also directed that the authorised immigration checkpoints at Agartala and Jewar airports be made operational at the earliest.

He said that, to popularise the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Travellers’ Programme (FTI-TTP), a mechanism should be established in coordination with airlines to send a WhatsApp message to passengers at the time of booking an international ticket, requesting them to register for the FTI-TTP.

Besides, Union Minister Shah directed that the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Central Industrial Security Force should independently commission separate third-party studies during the peak travel season to assess and reduce passenger delays at all touch-points across major airports.

The meeting was attended by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Director of Intelligence Bureau Mahesh Dixit, Secretary of Ministry of Civil Aviation Samir Kumar Sinha, Director General of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Praveer Ranjan, Chairman of Airports Authority of India Vipin Kumar and several other senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Civil Aviation.

–IANS

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