Facial recognition to be launched soon at airports, says Suresh Prabhu

It would be voluntary for passengers on whether to opt for facial recognition biometric for air travel, he said

Travellers will soon be able to enter airports in the country with facial recognition biometric under the government's Digi Yatra initiative.

Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said the initiative would be "forward-looking and futuristic" and would be launched soon.

He also said it would be voluntary for passengers on whether to opt for facial recognition biometric for air travel.

Digi Yatra initiative seeks to promote paperless and hassle-free air travel.

It is biometrics-based digital processing system for passenger entry and related requirements at the airport.

The Digi Yatra platform would be operational by February 2019, according to the ministry.