As COVID-19 Cases Slides , India Urges Foreign Governments To Ease Travel Restrictions

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Centre has said it has been taking up with foreign governments the issue of easing travel restrictions for Indians in view of an improvement in the coronavirus situation in the country. Indian students studying in institutions in China, Italy and several other countries have been stuck here in view of the travel restrictions.

“With the improvement in the Covid-19 situation in India, we have been taking up with foreign countries the issue of easing travel restrictions for Indians. We believe that this is an important element towards economic recovery,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing.

“There have been some positive steps in this direction and we would hope that more countries take steps to normalise the movement of people from India,” he added. Asked about the supply of Covid-19 vaccines by the United States to India, Bagchi said the domestic vaccination programme has been continuing at a rapid pace and that New Delhi has been in touch with its partners on the possibility of import of vaccines.

I may be recalled that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has extended the ban on international flights from South Asian countries till August 1. This means travellers from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan on any of the Visa will not be able to travel to the Gulf country. Bans from South Africa and Nigeria have also been extended until the same date.

Note that back on April 24, India to Dubai international flight was suspended due to the second wave of Coronavirus spreading across the country. UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has previously said that inbound passenger traffic from India would remain suspended until further notice.

Earlier on July 18, UAE-based airline Etihad Airlines further suspended its flights from six countries including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan until July 31 in wake of the pandemic