After the sweeping changes planned by the Home Ministry in the handling of immigration procedures at the international airports, the Civil Aviation Ministry now plans to approach the Cabinet in an effort to streamline facilitation of immigration at the airports.Given the multiple agencies operating at the international airports, the ministry has suggested the creation of a Standing Committee on Facilitation under the Cabinet Secretary to improve inter-agency functioning. The committee would be able to effect better co-ordination and streamline the facilitation measures at the international airports, particularly among the Airports Authority of India, Customs, Immigration and the CISF.The note also makes some other recommendations:• In tune with the Home Ministry’s move, the Civil Aviation Ministry has suggested doing away with immigration checks for incoming Indians and outgoing foreigners.• Customs check of passengers strictly on the basis of specific information to avoid unnecessary harassment.• Customs can do away with baggage X-Ray of incoming passengers, who have already undergone these checks at some other airport during departure.• Expedite introduction of the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS). This would allow the list of passengers to be transmitted to immigration officials here well before the particular aircraft lands.The Home Ministry has already decided to take over immigration from the Intelligence Bureau, send the existing staff for training in public relations and then depute passenger-friendly staff at the airports.
