The promise of breezing through airport entry using facial recognition technology faced an ironic twist at Bengaluru's airport recently, as passengers noticed that DigiYatra queues were longer than regular entry lines .
The observation was shared by journalist Nagarjun Dwarakanath, who posted about the situation on X after witnessing the scene at Kempegowda International Airport.
Describing the moment humorously, he wrote, 'Peak Bengaluru moment,' noting that the DigiYatra queues were longer than the non-DigiYatra lines, which were ironically moving faster.
The DigiYatra system was introduced to make airport travel smoother by allowing passengers to pass through entry points using facial recognition technology instead of repeatedly showing boarding passes and identity documents.
However, the scene at Bengaluru airport highlighted how the popularity of the system can sometimes create unexpected bottlenecks, particularly during peak travel hours.
Passengers in the regular entry lines reportedly moved faster than those waiting in the biometric queue, turning what was meant to be a fast-track experience into a slower one.
Soon after the post gained attention online, several travellers joined the discussion, sharing their own experiences at different airports.
Some users said the concept behind DigiYatra was promising but felt the implementation still required improvement.
One user suggested that biometric systems in many international airports operate without staff monitoring the process closely, making them faster and more seamless.
Others pointed to technical factors that might affect facial recognition accuracy, such as camera positioning and glare from sunlight, which could slow down scanning.
Another explanation offered by travellers was the rapid adoption of DigiYatra itself. As more passengers register for the service, biometric lanes may sometimes handle more travellers than traditional entry counters, especially at busy airports.
While the system was designed to reduce waiting times, the Bengaluru incident reflects the challenges that can arise when new technologies become widely used.
Despite the occasional hiccups, DigiYatra continues to be promoted as a major step toward digitised and contactless air travel in India, with authorities working to improve infrastructure and operational efficiency at airports across the country.