Context

In the latest development, the government has launched the Biometric enabled Centralised Access Control System (CACS) and ‘e-BCAS Project Training Module’, with the objective to enhance security and ease of doing business at airports.

About

Knowing the Projects:

• Centralised Access Control System (CACS) Project:

• CACS projectis aimed to digitize the employee movement process at the airports.
• It covers 43 Airports of AAI (Airports Authority of India) and 5 Joint Venture (JV) airports.
• This multi-layered security system encompasses the uniqueness of the Airport Entry Permit (AEP) users, biometric authentication in addition to PIN-based identity verification through contactless smart card technology.
• It will manage access of personnel along with RFID based automated vehicle access control system according to the region, terminal, zone, and gate access privileges.
• The cost of the card is Rs. 225, which shall be valid for three years.
• Biometric ID (Biometric enabled Centralised Access Control System having chip-embedded smart AEPs) thus issued, is non-duplicable.

Benefits:

• The project is bound to assist around 2 Lakhs employees of various stakeholders who move in and out of the airport on a daily basis.
• It will facilitate:
  • the ease of processing
  • enhanced security
  • prevent unauthorized entry into the airport
  • alert authorities to an attempted intrusion or other irregularities for immediate response

• e-BCAS Project Training Module:

• The ‘e-BCAS Project: Training Module’ is aimed at helping more than 1.5 lac employees of various stakeholders by migrating from manual process of training to a digital platform.
• All 29 Aviation Security Training Institutes (ASTIs) have been registered as user entities and now they can make nominations for various courses online.
• Moreover, the system will also allow its users to check the approvals by BCAS, declaration of results and QR coded online certificate generation will also be done through this project only.
• This would result in making the entire training ecosystem of BCAS transparent as well as efficient.

A move towards paperless office:

• The ‘e-BCAS’ project envisaged achieving a “paperless office” under e-Governance initiative of GoI.
• It is aimed at facilitating external stakeholders to access BCAS system by digital automation of all internal office procedures in 2016, the project was approved by Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) at an estimated cost of Rs.21.69 crore.
• The e-BCAS project included Training module, Quality Control and Operational module and Administration etc.
• After modifications, the current training module part has been completed at an estimated cost of Rs.30.00 lakhs approximately only.
• In due course of time, with the integration of all three modules into the platform of e-BCAS, the processing time in giving clearances and approvals will be reduced considerably.
• These steps will ease the process of training, audit/inspections, enhance the throughput as well as a lot of time, energy and precious man-hours of all stakeholders.

Benefits:

• It will benefit by:
  • By making all the activities in the BCAS transparent, user-friendly, and efficient
  • By providing ease of doing business with the stakeholders
  • By achieving the aim of the paperless office