Operated by Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL), the Kochi airport is the fourth busiest airport in India for international passenger traffic. While the Bureau of Immigration at the airport already has an enrollment facility for travellers at the Foreigner’s Regional Registration Office (FRRO) on the premises, the Kochi airport is all geared up now to become the second airport after Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, to implement the Union Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) ‘Fast Immigration — Trusted Traveller Programme’ (FTI-TTP). This facility would expedite the immigration clearance for both Indian and foreign nationals holding OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) cards.

An infrastructure makeover by CIAL is underway at the immigration area with eight lanes being dedicated to biometric e-gates. The fast-track immigration gates are expected to come into force next month.

Travellers can avail of the facility by completing a one-time registration on the MHA portal, submitting mandatory documents in addition to enrolling biometrics at the FRRO in the immigration area. After due verification, they can enter the smart gates bypassing queues at the immigration points by scanning their passports themselves.

CIAL Managing Director S. Suhas said, “CIAL is proud to collaborate with the Bureau of Immigration to facilitate fast-track biometric smart travel at our immigration counters. The biometric authentication process will reduce the immigration verification process time from four minutes to just 20 seconds.” – editor@nrifocus.com