The Indian government will soon introduce a “Trusted Traveler Program” for quicker immigration clearance for pre-verified travelers to relieve congestion at airport checkpoints.
Travelers holding Indian passports would be able to use the new program at all of India’s international airports.
Delhi and Mumbai airports will launch the program as a test this year.
According to the officials, it will then be extended to 15 additional international airports by the end of 2027 and to all airports by 2032.
Three electronic gates, two for arrival and one for departure, have already been installed at Delhi Airport in preparation for the program’s deployment.
Authorities have yet to start the program’s trials, though.
The program would assist Indian passport holders in avoiding lines at immigration checkpoints by encouraging them to utilize e-gates.
“The goal is to use technology to streamline and accelerate the immigration processing process.
Similar Global Entry Programs are used by the US Department of Homeland Security to speed security and immigration clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers, according to a third officer who works for the home ministry.
In the case of India, the verification system’s mechanisms need to be worked out. Authorities must also determine how passports will be stamped, as this is done at immigration checkpoints when someone enters or leaves India.
There are no plans to broaden the program to holders of other passports; it will only be available to individuals with Indian passports.
According to the citing officer, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has already established a blueprint for the “trusted traveler program” to quickly execute the program.
No matter how futuristic the plan may seem, it will be important to examine how the government defines “pre-verified travelers,” aviation expert Amit Singh said.
“E-Gates merely serve to lighten the burden or automate the procedure; nonetheless, a person in the background must confirm and certify the passenger’s identification based on the immigration database.
The e-gate will refuse admission if the individual is of interest, and they will then need to go to the manual counter, he continued.
In the end, the scheme’s successful execution will contribute to a reduction in the length of lines at checkpoints.