In a first in the country, men and women passengers flying out of the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) will not have to wait in separate queues during security screening. This, after Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) confirmed on Monday that it has signed an agreement with UK-based technology developer L3 Macdonald Humfrey to begin work on setting up a new security system - Smart Security Lane - by December this year which will screen men and women together.
This means that families can stay together during the screening process. The Smart Security Lane will see a single queue for men and women passengers as opposed to the separate screening process for men and women passengers in place currently. The Smart Security Lane will be installed along with a View Matrix security system which will allow all security screening officers to reside remotely within a secure central control room. This will reduce frisking, which is currently practiced in airports as one of the security measures.
The new system is also expected to speed up the check-in process. An Automated Tray Retrieval System (ATRS) will automatically return empty trays for passengers to place their bags and belongings, thereby ending the hassle of passengers looking for the trays. In addition, automated rollers in the system will enable the trays to automatically move into the screening machine, without the need for passengers or staff to push their bags into the X-Ray machines.
"At the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, we constantly explore ways to introduce innovation and technology to provide our passengers hassle-free and delightful travel experience. With the Smart Security Lane with Automated Tray Retrieval System, we can now process more passengers in a secure and controlled environment, improving overall operational efficiency and enhancing safety and security. In addition, passengers will benefit from a quicker passage through security checkpoints,” said Javed Malik, COO, BIAL.
The system is expected to be in place by March 2019 with work on the security hall enhancements set to start with the first automated lanes being installed in the Domestic and International checkpoints by the end of 2018. “Having installed similar solutions in many European, Middle East, North American, and SEA Airports, L3 Macdonald Humfrey has the expertise to implement this project at the BLR Airport, and will play a huge role in reshaping aviation security in India,” said Mick Macdonald, President Macdonald Humfrey (Automation) Ltd.