Has HM Amit Shah Expanded the ‘Trusted Traveller Programme’ to Navi Mumbai and Jewar?

New Delhi, Sep 11 (NationPress) - On Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced an expansion of the “Trusted Traveller Programme” to five additional airports, with plans to incorporate this tourist-friendly service into the forthcoming Navi Mumbai and Jewar airports.

This initiative aims to make immigration processes quicker, simpler, and hassle-free, thereby enhancing tourism with the “speed, scale, and scope” advocated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During the virtual launch from Lucknow, HM Shah highlighted that the programme simplifies immigration, promoting tourism effectively. The integration of this service with the new Navi Mumbai and Jewar airports is also in the pipeline, in addition to the existing 13 airports currently offering the facility.

“This scheme provides a significant opportunity to inform visitors about the transformative changes happening in the country,” he remarked.

HM Shah noted that the expansion coincided with a noteworthy date: 132 years ago, Swami Vivekanand delivered a landmark speech at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago, showcasing the vibrant essence of Indian culture and Sanatan Dharma.

“That moment signified a revival of Indian culture, a momentum that has persisted until today,” he added.

The “Trusted Traveller Programme” is a significant move towards fulfilling PM Modi’s vision of “Speed, Scale, and Scope.” He emphasized the need to work on trust while leveraging technology.

“It’s crucial that we ensure maximum participation in this service beyond just establishing a system,” he stated.

The Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Program (FTI-TTP) is a government initiative aimed at expediting immigration clearance for qualifying travelers. The government intends to implement this service at nearly two dozen airports.

Currently available for Indian nationals and OCI cardholders, this programme guarantees a faster, smoother, and more secure travel experience for pre-verified passengers.

The straightforward, rapid procedure—utilizing biometric e-Gates—reduces waiting times from approximately 30 minutes to just seconds.

HM Shah remarked that the scheme enhances both convenience and national security. Launched in 2024 in Delhi, it has since been implemented in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Kochi, and Ahmedabad, with today's addition of five new airports.

With this expansion, the programme is now operational at a total of 13 airports simultaneously. The Ministry of Home Affairs aims to integrate this initiative with the upcoming Navi Mumbai and Jewar airports.

He mentioned that feedback from users has been overwhelmingly positive, with travelers avoiding long queues or manual checks, receiving immigration clearance in merely 30 seconds.

To date, approximately 300,000 travelers have registered on this portal, with 265,000 having utilized the service. Efforts are underway to continuously increase these numbers.

Under PM Modi's leadership, the past 11 years have seen a remarkable rise in international passenger traffic.

In 2014, the number of travelers flying abroad stood at 35.4 million, which surged by 73 percent to 61.2 million by 2024. Similarly, foreign visitors to India rose from 15.3 million in 2014 to nearly 20 million in 2024, marking approximately a 31 percent increase.

When combined, the total number of passengers in 2014 was 50.7 million, which escalated to 81.2 million by 2024, representing a 60 percent growth.

HM Shah emphasized that the objective should be to ensure all Indian citizens and OCI cardholders benefit from this facility.

The FTI-TTP has been rolled out through an online portal, https://ftittp.mha.gov.in. To enroll, applicants must register online by providing their details and uploading required documents, as stated.

Biometric data from registered applicants can be collected at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or during airport passage.

Registered travelers need to scan their boarding passes issued by airlines at the e-Gate, followed by scanning their passports. Once biometrics are verified at the e-Gates at arrival and departure points, the e-Gate opens automatically, granting immigration clearance, as detailed in the statement.