Digi Yatra: What is The Digi Yatra Initiative and How Can You Use it?

This article is reviewed regularly (on a monthly basis) by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate. 

Updated December 2022

The Indian government is spearheading the country’s progress towards a digitally empowered society and has already introduced several digitalisation measures. Its latest initiative, Digi Yatra, is expected to transform air travel in India and promises users a smooth and speedy airport experience.

What is Digi Yatra? How and why should you use it? We invite you to learn more about the Digi Yatra initiative in this article.

What is the Digi Yatra initiative?

Digi Yatra is an industry-led initiative under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India vision to make the country digitally empowered.

Built on the fundamental pillars of ‘Connected Passengers, Connected Airports, Connected Flying, and Connected System’, Digi Yatra aims to create a simplified and streamlined digital experience for air travellers in India and fortify security standards.

It makes use of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) for the contactless and paperless processing of passenger information through different checkpoints at airports, linking the facial features and biometrics of passengers to their boarding passes.

Digi Yatra can be used voluntarily by Indian nationals and foreign travellers alike.

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Digi Yatra Benefits

The Digi Yatra is meant to have several benefits, including:

• digitised infrastructure
• hassle-free travel
• faster movement to boarding gates
• enhanced passenger security
• contactless processing
• lower cost of operations for the airports.

Digi Yatra registration process

To be able to use all the features and benefits offered by the Digi Yatra, travelers must first register themselves on the system. We explain the registration process below.

Through the Digi Yatra app

The Digi Yatra app is available on both Google Play and App Store, and can be downloaded free of charge.

To register yourself in the Digi Yatra program, please follow the steps below:

• register your mobile number on the Digi Yatra app and enter the OTP
• link your “Identity Credentials” to the app using DigiLocker or upload the XML file of your Aadhar card. You may also link the app to COWIN so as to present your vaccination status
• when prompted, click a clear selfie picture without any obstructions and upload it to the app
• update your boarding pass on the Digi Yatra app by scanning your boarding pass and uploading its image (or its PDF). You’ll then be registered with Digi Yatra for your upcoming journey

Make sure your name is identical across your boarding pass, flight ticket, and Aadhar card. On your first travel, you’ll be required to make your way to the airport registration kiosk for manual validation of your ID by the CSF.

Through the kiosks at airports

Unmanned but digitally secure kiosks have been installed at the airports to facilitate the Digi Yatra registration of travellers who don’t have easy access to the internet.

To register yourself at the kiosk:

• register your name, email, and mobile number and enter the OTP
• face the kiosk’s camera when prompted to allow it to capture your facial features and create your passenger ID and profile on the Digi Yatra platform
• enter your government-approved ID number

Your Digi Yatra ID will be activated only after you’ve submitted your Aadhar card or any other ID document at the airport kiosk for manual validation by the CSF.

Documents accepted for Digi Yatra registration

Passengers are expected to link their Digi Yatra profiles to their Aadhar cards. However, you can also use the following documents to register yourself on Digi Yatra instead of the Aadhar card:

• PAN Card
• Driving License Card
• Passport
• Voter ID card
• Student ID

Using Digi Yatra at airports

Once you have registered your flight journey on Digi Yatra, you are all set to skip the long queues at your departure airport. Here’s how you use the Digi Yatra at the airport.

• go to the designated entry E-Gate. Scan your barcoded boarding pass and look into the Facial Recognition System (FRS). Upon your authentification, the E-Gate will open and allow you entry into the terminal
• check-in your luggage at your airline’s desk. If you are travelling without luggage, you can proceed directly to the designated Digi Yatra gate. Again, look into the FRS system to enter
• complete the security check and continue towards your boarding gate to enjoy a gateless boarding experience

 

Digi Yatra-enabled airports

Digi Yatra was launched at the Indira Gandi International Airport in New Delhi on 1 December 2022. As of now, it is available only at the New Delhi, Varanasi, and Bengaluru airports.

At the Delhi airport, the Digi Yatra infrastructure has been constructed at:

• Entry E-Gate: Gate no. 2, Terminal 3
• Digi Yatra Gate: Zone 1 PESC, near the business-class entry
• Digi Yatra Boarding Gate: Gates no. 27 and 39.

The initiative will be extended to the Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Vijayawada airports in March 2023 and will gradually be enabled at all Indian airports.