Indian nationals and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) can now enjoy a faster immigration process at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) with the launch of a biometrics-based system. Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the ‘Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme’ (FTI-TTP) at Terminal 3 on Saturday. This initiative will soon be extended to airports in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Ahmedabad, along with 13 other airports across India.

The new system captures passenger biometrics, maintaining them in a database for real-time verification. This allows travelers to pass through automated gates with minimal human intervention, enhancing travel convenience and efficiency. Amit Shah described the program as a “visionary initiative” aimed at making international travel smoother and safer as part of the Viksit Bharat 2047 agenda.

The FTI-TTP system will be implemented through an online portal managed by the Bureau of Immigration. Indian citizens and OCI cardholders can register on the portal, upload necessary documents, and after verification, be added to a whitelist of “trusted travelers.” Their biometrics will be captured at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office or during airport passage, with registration valid for the passport’s duration or five years.

Registered passengers will scan their boarding pass and passport at e-gates, with the gate opening automatically upon successful biometric authentication, granting immigration clearance.

Source: The Indian Express