A full body thermal scanner has been installed at the arrival section of the Bir Tikendrajit International airport in Imphal for the first time in the entire north-eastern region, according to Airport Authority of India (AAI) officials.
Installation of scanner has been taken up as part of introducing prescribed standard operating procedure (SOP) in view of the scheduled resumption of the domestic flight services in the country from May 25, sources said.
The AAI also conducted a rehearsal under prescribed SOP on Saturday involving the airport’s staff and staff of different airlines so as to make them more familiar with the SOP.
According to AAI officials, a SOP will be followed at the airport on resumption of domestic flight service.
The procedures and protective measures which should be followed at Imphal Airport when it becomes operational again from May 25 have been fully prepared, says a senior official of AAI stationed in Imphal.
As per the prescribed SOP, passengers and their baggages would be sanitized on entering the airport, body temperature would be measured using thermal scanner and passengers would be asked to wash their hands.
Even though airport staff would assist all passengers, they would wear face shields and avoid direct touch with passengers.
With the resumption of the domestic flight services Bir Tikendrajit International airport in Imphal is expected to receive not less than 1000 people in a day, the AAI officials said.
On May 25 itself, seven flights from Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati would land at Imphal airport and take off again.
Considering the new development, the state Home department in an office memorandum issued here has announced that boarding passes or flight tickets either in electronic form or paper would be taken as curfew pass for movement between residence and airport with regard to people travelling by air.
All authorized taxis (taxis with permits issued by Transport Department) are also allowed to ply to pick and drop passengers coming by flight, the memorandum said.