Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched the Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP), which fast-tracks the immigration process of pre-verified Indian nationals and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders, in five more airports.

The special initiative was first rolled out at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here in July 2024 and two months later launched in seven more airports — Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Cochin and Ahmedabad. Today, the FTI-TTP was launched in Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Kozhikode and Amritsar.

“Fast Track Immigration: Trusted Traveller Programme makes immigration simpler, faster and hassle-free,” the minister said at a special programme held virtually.

OCI card holders and Indian citizens travelling abroad will receive the maximum benefit under the programme, Shah said. So far, three lakh people have registered and 2.65 lakh availed the facility so far.

The programme ensures faster immigration clearance. Several thousand passengers have been granted faster immigration clearance through e-gates till now, officials added.

The FTI-TTP, aimed at facilitating international mobility with faster, smoother, secure immigration clearance, has been started for Indian nationals and OCI card holders on a gratis basis in the initial phase .

The FTI-TTP is similar to the Global Entry Program offered by the US that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival in America in select airports, another official said.

The FTI-TTP will eventually be launched at 21 major airports in the country. Eligible passengers will be allowed to utilise e-gates and bypass regular immigration queues for a seamless journey. They will need to apply online and submit their biometrics (fingerprint and facial image) along with other required information as specified in the application form. The FTI registration will be valid for a maximum of five years or until the validity of the passport, whichever comes first.

A traveller can avail the facility by applying through the government website www.ftittp.mha.gov.in and providing the required details, which will be verified by the Bureau of Immigration.

Approved applications would receive a message to schedule an appointment to provide their biometrics details at designated international airports in India or the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).

The applicants need a minimum passport validity of at least six months.

The programme will be implemented in two phases — Indian citizens and OCI cardholders in the first and foreign travellers in the second.

The Bureau of Immigration will be the nodal agency for fast track immigration of various categories of travellers under this programme.

After necessary verification, a White List of ‘Trusted Travellers’ will be generated and fed for implementation through e-gates.

Once the genuine identity of the passenger is established and biometric authentication done, the e-gate will open automatically and immigration clearance will be deemed to have been granted.

The Union home ministry also shared a support help desk email ID — india.ftittp-boi@mha.gov.in. (PTI)

Jammu, 10 September 2025: 

Gaurav Gupta, Spokesperson BJP J&K UT, said, “This is a proud moment for the nation and for every BJP karyakarta. Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan Ji’s distinguished public life, humility, integrity, and lifelong dedication to serving society, especially the poor and marginalised, make him the ideal custodian of this high constitutional office. His emphatic victory reflects not only the trust of Parliament but also the unity, discipline, and strategic strength of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which has once again demonstrated its decisive role in shaping the nation’s democratic and constitutional processes under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji.”

Shri Radhakrishnan, the NDA candidate and Maharashtra Governor, polled 452 first-preference votes against 300 votes secured by INDIA bloc candidate and former Supreme Court judge Justice B. Sudershan Reddy. Fifteen votes were declared invalid, and 13 MPs abstained. The election witnessed an impressive 98.2% turnout, with 767 Members of Parliament casting their vote out of 781 electors. The results highlighted considerable cross-voting from Opposition MPs, reflecting cracks within the Opposition ranks, even though the NDA had a pre-election numerical advantage. The election was conducted 50 days after the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, citing health reasons during the first day of the Monsoon Session.

 Gupta emphasized that the NDA’s cohesive strategy, disciplined teamwork, and alliance coordination played a pivotal role in ensuring this historic mandate. He added, “This victory is a testament to the NDA’s commitment to democratic principles, parliamentary decorum, and the collective strength of its member parties, which consistently work together to serve the nation and strengthen India’s constitutional institutions.”

Distinguished Career of Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, Born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, Shri Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan began his political journey with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Jana Sangh, later joining the BJP. He served as a two-time Member of Parliament from Coimbatore, President of BJP Tamil Nadu unit, Governor of Jharkhand, and later Governor of Maharashtra, with additional charge of Telangana and Puducherry. He also chaired the Coir Board (2016–2020) under the Ministry of MSME, boosting exports to record levels, and served as BJP’s in-charge for Kerala (2020–2022), strengthening the party organization in the state.

Shri Radhakrishnan has been a key contributor to the NDA’s national strategy, supporting alliance cohesion and parliamentary coordination across multiple states. He has played a pivotal role in strengthening parliamentary committees and enhancing legislative processes, ensuring effective debates and policy discussions at the national level.

A graduate in Business Administration, he is a sports enthusiast, excelling in table tennis, and taking keen interest in cricket and volleyball. Shri Radhakrishnan has represented India in multiple international delegations across Asia, Europe, and North America, projecting India’s democratic ethos globally.

Concluding the statement, Gaurav Gupta said that the BJP family of Jammu & Kashmir proudly joins the NDA in celebrating this historic occasion, confident that Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan Ji’s tenure will uphold the dignity of the Vice President’s office, strengthen parliamentary traditions, and inspire future generations with service, integrity, and constitutional commitment, while reaffirming the pivotal role of the NDA in India’s democratic journey.

NEW DELHI, Sept 10: The Congress on Wednesday extended best wishes to vice president-elect C P Radhakrishnan and recalled first vice president Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s words in the Rajya Sabha in 1952 that a democracy is likely to “degenerate into a tyranny if it does not allow the opposition groups to criticise fairly, freely, and frankly the policies of the government”.

 The opposition party asserted that Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan practised what he preached, both in letter and spirit.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “While extending its best wishes to Shri C P Radhakrishnan, the newly-elected Vice President of India who will also be the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Indian National Congress recalls the wise words of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the very first Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.”Online shopping in India

“On the opening day of the Rajya Sabha on May 16, 1952, the very eminent philosopher-educationist-author-diplomat had said: ‘I belong to no party, and that means I belong to every party in this House. It shall be my endeavour to uphold the traditions, the highest traditions, of parliamentary democracy and act towards each party with fairness and impartiality with ill-will to none and goodwill to all….A democracy is likely to degenerate into a tyranny if it does not allow the opposition groups to criticise fairly, freely, and frankly the policies of the Government’,” Ramesh posted on X.

“Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan practised what he preached, both in letter and spirit,” he added.

NDA candidate C P Radhakrishnan was elected the next vice president of India as he bagged 452 votes against the opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy’s 300, winning the contest with a bigger than expected margin.

After the results for the vice presidential polls were declared, the Congress on Tuesday had said the BJP’s “arithmetical” victory in the vice presidential election is both a “moral and political defeat” for the ruling party. It had asserted that the Opposition stood united in the election with “most respectable” performance.Online shopping in India

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had extended best wishes to Radhakrishnan on securing victory in the election, while also expressing sincere gratitude to Reddy for being the “united Opposition’s joint candidate” and for his spirited and principled fight.

Ramesh had asserted that the Opposition stood united for the vice presidential election.

“Its performance has undeniably been most respectable. Its joint candidate Justice (retd) B Sudershan Reddy secured 40% of the vote. In 2022, the Opposition had received 26% of the vote in the vice presidential elections,” Ramesh had said on Tuesday.

“The BJP’s arithmetical victory is really both a moral and political defeat. The ideological battle continues undiminished,” Ramesh had said. (Agencies)