Image Source: The Hindu
New Delhi: Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri, on Tuesday, May 5, announced that the over 2 lakh Indian citizens who have been stranded abroad will be brought back home on special flights starting May 7.
Speaking during a virtual presser, the minister said that while he cannot confirm the exact number, the government had initially estimated that there will be more than 2 lakh people.
He explained that the government had initially confined the “evacuation” to 200,000 people, however, when other states and ministries got involved, the number of those who wished to return increased. The final number will be based on the logistics, the minister added.
Once the government goes through with this, it will become one of the world’s largest repatriation exercises. Minister Puri explained that the facilities would need to be upgraded in order to make the exercise a success.
According to Minister Puri, in the first week alone, the government plans to bring back over 14,800 Indians living in 13 countries on 64 flights. Reportedly, flights from India will go to the US, Philippines, Singapore, Bangladesh, UAE, UK, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Singapore, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait.
As many as 15 flights from seven countries will go to Kerala, 11 will go to Tamil Nadu and another 11 will go to Delhi.
Later, on Twitter, Minister Puri elaborated, “64 @airindiain flights will operate in 1st week (7-13 May). 10 flights will operate from UAE, 2 from Qatar, 5 from Saudi Arabia, 7 from UK, 5 from Singapore, 7 from USA, 5 from Philippines, 7 from Bangladesh, 2 from Bahrain, 7 from Malaysia, 5 from Kuwait & 2 from Oman.
64 @airindiain flights will operate in 1st week (7-13 May). 10 flights will operate from UAE, 2 from Qatar, 5 from Saudi Arabia, 7 from UK, 5 from Singapore, 7 from USA, 5 from Philippines, 7 from Bangladesh, 2 from Bahrain, 7 from Malaysia, 5 from Kuwait & 2 from Oman.
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) May 5, 2020
According to a report by News18, a flight from London to Mumbai/Delhi/Bengaluru will cost around Rs 50,000. Travel from Newark/Chicago/San Francisco will cost Rs 1 lakh.
According to the flight plan released by the ministry, tickets from Dubai and Abu Dhabi will cost Rs 13,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively. Tickets from Singapore will cost Rs 20,000 for flights to Delhi and Ahmedabad and Rs 18,000 for flights to Bengaluru.
The minister added that the dates will depend on the duration of the flights.
Each flight will ferry between 200 and 300 passengers, depending on the aircraft being operated, in order to ensure that social distancing norms are followed. Additionally, passengers will have to declare whether they have fever, cough, diabetes or any respiratory disease before boarding these special flights.
Upon their arrival, passengers will be screened again for symptoms of COVID-19 and will be subjected to a 14-day quarantine either at a hospital or a government facility.
Reportedly, private airlines may also be enlisted to help in the repatriation.
The Minister, on Twitter, iterated that these are limited operations and that it “does not signal resumption of domestic & international civil aviation services”. He added that the government will consider reopening the Indian skies “only after the current lockdown”.
Indian Navy ships will also be used to repatriate the stranded citizens. Three ships will reportedly sail to West Africa and the Maldives for this purpose.
Additionally, the Indian Government is also planning to send citizens of other countries who have been stranded in India on the outbound flights.
