Trial run of full body scanner starts at T3

The scanner produces mannequin-like images and detects hidden items in the body. In view of the privacy concerns raised by passengers over X-Ray images that the body scanners produce at airports across the world, the BCAS has asked the manufacturers to configure the machines to ensure that the images don’t reveal body parts.

Passengers at the Indira Gandhi International Airport’s terminal T3 were on Monday asked to go through a full body scanner, though voluntarily. The scanners are currently used at several international airports and Delhi will be the first airport India to experiment with the security device.

CISF personnel at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. The full body scanners are expected to ramp up security at the international terminal. (Arvind Yadav/HT)

“The efficiency of the scanner will be checked in the coming days and a committee will decide whether the system is good enough to install it permanently. Total 10,000 scans will analysed for reaching a conclusion,” said a senior CISF official. CISF guards the airport.

“It’s voluntary since it is a trial run. We will make the checks compulsory only after we decide to use them on a permanent basis,” said a Bureau for Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) official.

The scanner produces mannequin-like images and detects hidden items in the body. In view of the privacy concerns raised by passengers over X-Ray images that the body scanners produce at airports across the world, the BCAS has asked the manufacturers to configure the machines to ensure that the images don’t reveal body parts.

The scanning does not take more than a minute and it comes with privacy filters. The scanner can reveal plastic and liquid explosives, composite weapons, plastic and metal guns, drugs and other contraband, ceramic and metal knives, box cutters, precious metals and recording devices.

The scanner with millimeter wave technology has been brought from the United States and another one from Germany will arrive next week. “We want to test both the technologies simultaneously to decide which one is better. During the trial run, passengers’ feedback will be taken . We want to cover most of the passengers travelling out during the trial period,” said the official.

Passengers will be requested to go through the body scanner after they have collected their boarding pass. It will be voluntary. However, they will have to go through the normal security check even if they choose to go through the scanner. Only highly suspicious passengers will be forced to go through the scanners.

“Irrespective of the controversy associated with it, we wanted these scanners at the airport. A discussion to install shoe scanners was also held but nothing has been finalised,” said a BCAS official.

A few years ago, a similar trial run was conducted at the Delhi airport and a US-based company had installed the body scanner. A survey conducted during the period showed that 90% passengers feel the new technology will help but only 40% volunteered to go through the scanner.

ENDS