ADVERTISEMENTs
India expands fast-track immigration to five more airports
With the five new locations, the program is now active at 13 airports.
-
1749497506.png)
Malvika Choudhary - Sat, 13, Sep 2025
- 16:19 EDT
- 24
Travelers wait in a long line to check on their baggage from their cancelled flights at Chicago Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., December 27, 2022. / REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski/File Photo
India on Sept. 12 expanded its automated immigration clearance system to five additional airports, aiming to reduce wait times for international passengers and strengthen border security.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Sept. 12 inaugurated the Fast Track Immigration–Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI–TTP) at Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Trichy, Kozhikode, and Amritsar airports through video conference. Senior officials, including the Union Home Secretary and the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, attended the event.
Also Read: USCIS warns against visa fraud after Indian man’s conviction
Shah said the expansion reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Speed, Scale, and Scope” in governance. “The next stage of enhancing travelers’ convenience, aligning with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Speed, Scale, and Scope, starts today with this program,” he said, describing the system as both a service improvement and a “trust multiplier.”
Launched in Delhi in 2024, the FTI–TTP has since been rolled out at major hubs including Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Kochi, and Ahmedabad. With the five new locations, the program is now active at 13 airports. Shah added that the system will also be integrated into the upcoming Navi Mumbai and Jewar airports.
The program allows registered passengers to bypass long queues and manual checks, completing immigration clearance in around 30 seconds at e-Gates. Travelers scan their boarding pass and passport, after which biometric verification is carried out. Upon successful authentication, the e-Gate opens automatically, granting clearance.
According to government data, about 300,000 travelers have registered on the FTI–TTP portal, with 265,000 already using it during international travel. Shah urged that enrolment be linked with the issuance of Indian passports and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards to expand access. “All technical possibilities should be explored to ensure that the maximum number of people benefit from this program,” he said, noting that OCI cardholders in particular would gain from the facility.
The Home Minister emphasized that the initiative combines passenger convenience with security and added that feedback from users so far has been overwhelmingly positive.
Shah also highlighted a surge in international passenger traffic under the Modi government. Outbound travel rose from 35.4 million in 2014 to 61.2 million in 2024, an increase of 73 percent. Foreign arrivals grew from 15.3 million in 2014 to about 20 million in 2024, a rise of 31 percent. Combined, the total number of international passengers climbed from 50.7 million in 2014 to 81.2 million in 2024, marking an overall 60 percent increase.
The FTI–TTP operates through an online portal, where applicants upload documents and register in advance. Biometric data can be submitted either at Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) or at designated airports.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
.jpg)
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login