New Delhi: Full-Body Scanner, which will be installed at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in April 2020, can be operational in the next few months if Footfall continues to increase.
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which tested the German body scanner in February 2020, said from two technologies – X-ray backscatter and millimeter wave technology – the latter has been chosen because lower radiation emitted from it.
However, the pandemic has delayed the installation, which is a “top priority” at this time.
A senior CISF official told TOI that the technology was considered after all possible errors from the testing phase and the radiation problem was handled.
Some adjustments were made and final technology was approved by the Civil Aviation Security Bureau (BCAS) last year.
“It remains a top priority for the CISF to cover all airports with this technology.
Delhi and Mumbai will see the first installation, followed by another airport.
This technology has been approved and the possibility of deficiency has been repaired,” the official said.
The scanner will be installed in coordination with airport operators, Delhi International Airport Limited.
Other officials, involved in the testing process, said the increase in footsteps was needed to start the installation because the move would not be economical for now.
Last year, 69 “precision” body scanners were approved for installation at IGI Airport.
Officials say that number has not changed, but fewer machines can be installed at first.
“It will be expensive to install everything now because of low footsteps.
But we can immediately start the process,” added CISF officials.
A senior airport official said they had coordinated with various institutions and meetings for body scanners held even last year to complete the installation process.
“Covid-19 and the closure of air operations slowed the process,” added the official.
In June 2019, BCAS has requested 84 major airports in the country to install the body’s scanner in the next two years.
However, IGI and five other airports have been asked to carry out the process in April 2020.
In notifications, specifications for each scanner of the whole body and protocol that must be followed by passengers is also issued.
In the test conducted in January and February 2020, the new engine was found to be quite effective in capturing minute details, but he faced the problem in identifying goods around the ankle.
CISF said the problem was repaired later.
In 2017, CISF has tried with the whole body scanner from the US.
However, the machine has a problem, especially with women wearing saree.
Officials said the scanner also could not detect items under the knee.
More than 10,000 passengers were tested during this trial.
The current door frame detector will still apply to passengers who are bound by wheelchairs and those who are physically not able to pass the whole body scanner.