If the system doesn’t breach my security beyond just accessing my face, it is a calculated risk I’ll take for providing myself with a convenience
BHPian married recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Introduction
Way back when Whatsapp was a craze (or a rage), it was quite a while until I registered myself on the app and there’s been no looking back since. Same with the much touted Digiyatra – I’ve seen for myself how a colleague departing Pune Airport with only cabin baggage, arrived quite late (courtesy mad traffic at Magarpatta), used the Digiyatra gate to swiftly enter the terminal at 2030hrs, and still made it to his 2105hrs flight just in time. Despite seeing this seamless entry of my colleague, I didn’t get onto Digiyatra until a few days ago. Reason – late adopter of tech!
The run up to being Digiyatra-ised
- Ever since I saw that last minute entry of my colleague, I’ve always wondered if there was some catch and why everyone is so keen to enrol folks onto Digiyatra. I’ve seen
- Scores of bluish green jacketed employees at Bengaluru Airport soliciting passengers to get onto Digiyatra,
- A dedicated counter for registering for Digiyatra,
- Annoucements about Digiyatra on all aircraft I’ve flown on the domestic circuit
- The first few gates at Bengaluru T1 being converted to Digiyatra ONLY gates making the non digital folks move to Gate 6 at Bengaluru Terminal 1
- Making walks longer to non-Digiyatra security check points too
yet, was stubborn not to give in.
What made me eventually Digiyatra-ize?
As examples – when filing IT returns, when applying for Aadhar based vehicle transfer of ownership, registering for GST, availing a mobile SIM etc., the Aadhar portal is accessed and only after the OTP is provided do things move. Since I travel a lot and was keen on experiencing tech finally, I thought to myself, “If the system doesn’t breach my security beyond just accessing my face, it is a calculated risk I’ll take for providing myself with a convenience, because I use the airports a lot”
Quick steps I followed to Digiyatra-ize myself
Accessed the app on the playstore, downloaded it, registered myself using the same number that I have linked to my Aadhar, provided my credentials in the form of Aadhar, the OTP I received from UIDAI site, then took a pic of myself and was all set. Uploaded my boarding pass and I said I was ready to enter the airport in style the next morning.
Registration/ Login Page
Profile screen
Credentials page to click on Aadhar and validate via OTP
Entry in style was not to be
When I walked up to the Digiyatra gate in style, I was asked by the CISF personnel if I’d registered on Digiyatra at the Airport to which I replied I’d done it at home the previous evening, to which I got a reply, ” Woh app to yahan kaam nahi kar raha hai” ( that is not working here). The CISF person was kind enough to ask me for my boarding pass and ID (legacy system) and allow me in. I said, ” Huh, so much for digital”, post which I got into the terminal, checked my bag in, and moved to security check. There, I joined the Digiyatra queue, looked at the screen and bingo, I was in seamlessly. I wondered – how could I not enter at the Terminal Gate while able to enter seamlessly at Security check? Welcome to the digital world!
Digiyatra Malfunction
While this experience left some questions unanswered, I got some answers by the time I reached my destination. When I tried logging into Digiyatra, I got a message stating – check your internet connection. This happened multiple times even though the first screen was opening, other websites were opening. I then went onto the official Digiyatra website, where I saw an error message to state that passengers should be prepared to use the identity card system between 26th and 31st March 2024.
Journey#2 and re-Digiyatra-izing myself
On reaching the airport, I attempted an entry into the Digiyatra queue without realizing that I hadn’t been able to open the app, and therefore hadn’t uploaded my boarding pass for the day. As expected, the gate didn’t open. I went out of the queue, spoke to one of the bluish green jacketed agents, who was very patient and told me that the app had been updated and she asked me to download the new app and re-register. I did, and when I was all set, the app wouldn’t take my boarding pass in pdf. Next jugaad – took a screenshot of the boarding pass, pruned the pic, and uploaded as an image. Done in a jiffy. Went to a Digiyatra gate, looked at the screen, and lo and behold, the gate opened! Walked in, printed my bag tag, deposited my bag, moved to Security queue no.7, looked at the screen, the gate opened, and I walked past the gate like a king.
Old App (black) vs latest
First landing screen after registering – I skipped the fingerprinting
Validate Credentials via Aadhar
Consent for picking up data from UIDAI
Credentials validated after a photograph of self is validated against the pic on the Aadhar – this and the uploaded boarding pass become one’s pass for smooth entry into the airport
Consent before uploading boarding pass
Boarding Pass uploaded as an image but did not take the pdf
Moral of the story
Digital can make one look like a king, or like a fool. When, like what, is a gamble. While I’m keeping the app, I look forward to more travel and hope I continue to enjoy a king type entry everytime! However, I’m also prepared to look like a fool.
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