Passengers travelling from the Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi will no longer have to stand in long queues to get their luggage screened manually at the departure area as the airport authorities have decided to install the latest In-Line Baggage Screening (ILBS) system, which will automate the process at the check-in counter with minimal manual intervention, airport officials said on Thursday.

“Passengers will be able to directly move to the check-in counter without taking the trouble of passing their baggage through the X-Ray scanners once the ILBS system is installed,” said the director of Birsa Munda Airport, Vinod Sharma. “We have set a target of installing the ILBS system by November 15,” he added.

According to Sharma, the latest ILBS system will not only help passengers save time, but also enhance security at the airport by detecting explosives and items prohibited in aircrafts with more efficiency.

At present, passengers have to first fall in line at the baggage screening centre where their luggage is screened manually, and then move to the check-in counter. The process of getting baggage screened manually often becomes time-consuming during busy hours at the airport, inconveniencing passengers who are either running late or are unwell.

The decision of installing ILBS system has been taken in compliance with the latest security norms of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), said airport officials, adding that the latest ILBS system is already operational in some of the busiest airports in India.

The Ranchi airport will also get two new aerobridges, the moveable tunnels that connect airport buildings to the aircraft and help in hassle-free boarding or deboarding for passengers, Sharma said. At present, the airport has two aerobridges. The additional two aerobridges will help in easing flight movement.

Currently, at least 20 flights connect Ranchi to New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. The Birsa Munda Airport, which bagged the top position in Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) last year, at present has a 75 meter basic strip, which is the minimum length required for any airport. The basic strip is likely to be extended to 140 meter. Ranchi was likely to get more flights earlier this year, but the second wave of Covid-19 caused a delay in the process, officials said.