Kolkata Airport's Digi Yatra Facility Recovers After Technical Disruption
Just one day after a technical snag in the Digi Yatra system caused significant inconvenience to passengers at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, the seamless facial recognition facility operated smoothly on Monday without any reported issues. The usage of Digi Yatra rebounded impressively, climbing to approximately 30% to 31% of domestic flyers departing from Kolkata. This marked a substantial recovery from the diminished usage of only 15% to 17% recorded on Sunday when the system was affected.
Return to Normal Operations and Passenger Volume
By Monday evening, airport authorities confirmed that more than 5,000 passengers had successfully used the Digi Yatra facility. An airport official stated to the media, "We expect the usage to reach the 7,000 mark by the end of the day. That is the usual count on an average day in Kolkata." This indicates a full return to the standard operational levels following the previous day's disruption.
Sunday's System Glitch and Its Impact
The technical issue had grounded the Digi Yatra system on Sunday morning, compelling flyers to resort to manual gates for entry into the airport. This shift led to the formation of long queues as passengers were required to present their identification proof and boarding passes to CISF personnel stationed at the gates. Although the problem was reportedly fixed around 9:45 AM, passengers continued to face difficulties because data uploaded during the snag period failed to register properly in the system.
The official explained, "Passengers had to re-share the boarding card data to use the facility. Those who did so were able to use it, while others went the manual way." This additional step contributed to the ongoing inconvenience even after the initial fix was implemented.
Measures to Prevent Future Recurrences
Sources familiar with the situation revealed that the Digi Yatra technical team is actively taking measures to ensure that such problems do not recur. A source mentioned, "The root cause analysis was done. Corrective measures will be initiated at the central level." This proactive approach aims to enhance the system's reliability and prevent similar disruptions in the future.
Passenger Relief and Testimonials
For many regular flyers, Monday's smooth operations provided a welcome relief. Gobindo Poddar, a resident of Dum Dum who was traveling to Hyderabad, expressed that he was unaware of Sunday's glitch and encountered no difficulties using the dedicated Digi Yatra channel. He said, "I started late from home on Monday. If I had to stand in a regular queue instead of using the DigiYatra e-gates, it would have been very stressful."
Souvik Dey, a Belur resident flying to Chennai, echoed similar sentiments. As a regular user of the system for over two-and-a-half years, he highlighted the centrality of facial recognition technology in global air travel. Dey remarked, "We have become so accustomed to using it that without this facility, travelling feels far more cumbersome." He also noted that Kolkata was among the early adopters of this innovative service, underscoring its importance in streamlining the travel experience.
The swift recovery of the Digi Yatra system underscores its critical role in modern air travel, offering a faster and more efficient alternative to traditional manual checks. As airports continue to integrate such technologies, ensuring their robustness and reliability remains paramount to maintaining passenger convenience and operational efficiency.
