The BRICS TimesImmigration to get faster and smoother as Home Minister Amit Shah expands Trusted Traveller Programme to boost tourism and ease travel.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday revealed the expansion of the Trusted Traveller Programme to five more airports, aiming to make immigration quicker, seamless, and more efficient while giving a strong push to tourism. He said the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of driving growth with “speed, scale and scope.”
The Home Minister, while inaugurating the service through video conferencing at Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Trichy, Calicut, and Amritsar airports, noted, “The scheme offers a great opportunity to apprise visitors about the sweeping changes taking place in the country.”
Amit Shah highlighted the historic significance of the day, recalling that exactly 132 years earlier, Swami Vivekananda had delivered his remarkable address at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago, where he shared the vision of Indian culture and Sanatan Dharma with the world.
“In a way, that moment marked the resurgence of Indian culture, and that phase has continued till today,” he added.
Shah underlined that the Trusted Traveller Programme is not only a step forward to realise PM Modi’s goal of “Speed, Scale and Scope” but also a tool to strengthen the trust multiplier while leveraging technology. He stressed, “But more than just putting a system in place, we need to ensure that the maximum number of people avail the service.”
The Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) is a flagship government project designed to speed up immigration for pre-verified travellers. Officials plan to extend this facility to nearly two dozen airports in the coming years.
Initially available only for Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders, the programme guarantees a swifter, safer, and smoother airport experience for eligible passengers.
With biometric e-gates, the entire process cuts waiting time from almost half an hour to just a few seconds, ensuring convenience without compromising security.
The facility, first introduced as a free option for Indian nationals and OCI cardholders, has now been expanded to more major airports across the country.
To use the system, passengers must complete online registration and submit biometric details, including fingerprints and facial scans. This information can be shared either at participating airports or through the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
