Enhancing Traveler Convenience and National Security
NEW DELHI — Union Home Minister Amit Shah today inaugurated the Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Program (FTI-TTP) at five additional airports across the country, expanding the initiative to streamline travel for Indian and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders. The new facilities have been launched at Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Kozhikode, and Amritsar airports via video conferencing.
The FTI-TTP is designed to make immigration clearance faster and more secure through the use of e-gates or automated border gates, which significantly reduce human intervention. The program, which was first introduced at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport in July 2024, is now operational at a total of 13 airports nationwide.
During the inauguration, Home Minister Shah emphasized that the program balances convenience with national security. He highlighted the tremendous growth in international passenger traffic, noting that the number of Indian passengers traveling abroad has increased by approximately 73% in the last eleven years, from 3.54 crore in 2014 to 6.12 crore in 2024. Similarly, the number of foreign visitors to India has grown from 1.53 crore to around 2 crore in the same period.
The FTI-TTP is a key component of the government’s efforts to modernize immigration facilities. So far, over 3 lakh passengers have registered for the program, which is currently offered on a gratis (free of cost) basis. The government plans to eventually expand the program to 21 major airports across the country, further easing the travel experience for millions of people. The initiative allows eligible travelers to bypass long queues and complete their immigration process in a matter of seconds.