Bengaluru, July 5: The Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru is likely to be India’s first airport that would begin using body scanners instead of metal detectors during security check-in. Reports inform that airport operator has started a proof of concept (PoC) study to determine that the body scanners are better than the security equipment which are currently used at airports across India. The use of the body scanners is that it detects objects being carried by a traveller without the need for physical contact. 'Fastest Growing Airports in Southeast Asia': 6 Indian Airports in List; Delhi, Bengaluru & Mumbai at Top.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, trials of the body scanners are being undertaken at the Kempegoda International Airport since July 1. A spokesperson of the Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) was quoted in the report saying that the trials that began earlier this month, would continue over the next three to four weeks. The spokesperson further said that based on specifications issued by the BCAS, BIAL is using body scanners with Millimetre Wave (illumination) technology, which ensures that the scanners are safe for pregnant women and people with pacemakers.India to be 2nd Fastest Growing Nation For Passenger Traffic: Airport Council of India.

According to reports, the Bureau for Civil Aviation Secretary (BCAS) had made it mandatory for several hypersensitive airports to deploy body scanners by April 2020. The airports that are vulnerable to security risks include Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and three airports in Jammu and Kashmir.

The BCAS in a communique in April had given fliers the option of refusing to go through body scanners. If the passenger refuses, the individual would be subjected to a full pat-down search during the security check-in at the airport. The HT report states that air travellers with medical conditions will also be exempt from security screening by body scanners and would be screened using door frame metal detectors (DFMDs).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 05, 2019 04:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).