Amit Shah has ordered a third-party audit to reduce passenger delays at the airport

Union Home Minister Amit Shah. File. | Photo credit: ANI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to independently commission third-party studies during the peak travel season to identify and reduce passenger delays at all touchpoints at major airports.

The direction came during a review meeting with Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on passenger facilities, security measures and immigration system at major airports. The meeting was attended by the Union Home Secretary, Director of Intelligence, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Director General CISF, Chairman Airports Authority of India and other senior officials.

To improve passenger handling, Mr. Shah directed the phased installation of the Automatic Stack Retrieval System (ATRS) at airports across the country to ease congestion at security checkpoints and reduce manpower requirements.

He also asked the Ministry of Civil Aviation to prescribe norms for the number of aerobridges at airports according to passenger and air traffic. Additionally, the baggage drop facility, which is currently available at 16 major airports, will be extended to other international airports handling high volumes of passengers.

To speed up immigration clearance, Mr Shah also called for greater adoption of the centre’s Trusted Travelers’ Program (FTI-TTP), which mandates airlines to send WhatsApp messages to passengers at the time of booking international flights, encouraging them to sign up for the programme.

Published – 8 Jul 2026 22:58 IST