DigiYatra Glitches At Kolkata Airport Leave Passengers Waiting At Entry Gates

Kolkata, West Bengal, 30th October 2026: Technical glitches in the DigiYatra system at Kolkata airport left passengers waiting at entry gates on Tuesday and Wednesday, with QR-code scanning failures and facial recognition issues leading to congestion at the terminal entrances.

Passengers reported that DigiYatra kiosks were unable to scan digital boarding-pass QR codes, while some travellers also raised concerns over the reliability of facial recognition. The complaints highlighted how technical problems can disrupt an automated system intended to speed up airport entry.

An airport official said the disruption lasted approximately 30 to 45 minutes and was resolved by technical teams. Another senior official attributed one of the incidents to an unexpected telecom network failure, which temporarily interrupted services while maintenance teams intervened. Airport authorities said operations had since been restored.

Passengers also questioned the entry procedure at the airport. One traveller complained on social media that DigiYatra was not functioning properly. At the same time, another reported that kiosks at Gates 1 and 2 failed to scan QR codes, resulting in overcrowding at the entry points. Some passengers said they had been advised to increase their phone-screen brightness while displaying their QR codes.
The complaints have renewed questions about the two-step verification process followed at airports operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The system requires passengers to scan a QR code linked to their boarding pass before completing biometric facial verification.

An airport official described the dual-check process as an additional layer of operational security. However, some frequent flyers have argued that relying on facial recognition without repeatedly scanning a boarding-pass QR code could make entry faster. The official said removing the QR-code requirement would require changes across the AAI network.

DigiYatra uses facial recognition and digital identity credentials to facilitate paperless passenger processing at participating airports. Its performance depends on multiple components, including functioning kiosks, readable QR codes, network connectivity, and biometric verification systems.

The latest disruption comes as DigiYatra prepares to expand to international passenger trials at seven Indian airports from November 1. The planned trials will allow eligible Indian nationals holding e-passports to use digital credentials at designated airport checkpoints while travelling on select international flights.

The Kolkata incident underlines the importance of reliable infrastructure and alternative entry arrangements when automated systems fail, particularly during busy travel periods. Although airport officials said the immediate technical issues had been resolved, passenger complaints have raised questions about how consistently the system delivers the faster entry experience it promises.