As travel tends to get back to the pre-pandemic times, countries are easing up travel restrictions and making way for visitors. And now, India may be doing away with the Air Suvidha portal to make travel easier as well. By Anushka Goel
The Air Suvidha portal was introduced in 2020, during the initial peak of the pandemic, which mandated international arrivals to India to register online before they entered the country. This was done to keep a check on COVID-19 spread and allow for better contact tracing just in case someone tested positive. And as travel eases across the globe and countries slowly go back to pre-pandemic travel norms, the Indian government is also considering scrapping the Air Suvidha portal.
India considers removing Air Suvidha portal for travel
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The portal was introduced as a way for passengers to self-regulate their stay in the country, their entry and exit, and overall health. Talking about wanting to scrap the same, a senior Civil Aviation Ministry official told The Indian Express, “We have written to the Health Ministry seeking removal of Air Suvidha requirements given that it could add to the convenience of flying as international traffic grows. But the Health Ministry has replied saying they will review the programme in August and decide on this.”
The Air Suvidha portal allows the government to assess the traveller’s COVID-19 risk status, by checking in on their overall health, vaccination status and whether or not they are travelling from a high-risk region. The portal also allows passengers to upload their vaccination certificate, COVID-19 tests and other documents to make travelling and documentation easier.
However, ever since its launch and its further updates, several passengers complained of the website being down for long periods of time, difficulty in using and accessing the forms and a lot more, and the removal of the portal may come as a breath of fresh air – paving a prominent path in ease of travel.
Hero and Featured Image: Courtesy of Pascal Meier/Unsplash
Related: Planning An International Trip? These Countries Are Allowing Indians To Travel Without Quarantine
Written By
Anushka Goel
Anushka has previously worked with publications such as the Times of India and Being Indian. A graduate from Xavier Institute of Communications, she specialises in entertainment, food and travel. She also likes to write about sustainability and beauty. When not working, you can catch her reading a book, tending to her plants, cooking or playing an instrument.
