Chartered Flights by NRI Groups Get Approval From Indian Government

With the special approval of Central government many NRI organizations have arranged chartered flights to send back Indians who stranded in their respective countries due to lock down. Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam,Sharjah Indian Association are the two NRI organizations those were hired private airline flights to ferry Indians to their native states.

A pair of Gulf Air and Air India flights were hired for this purpose by Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam in which two Gulf air flights started off its journey from Manama to Kochi carrying 168 passengers on Friday. However Air India flights which also planned to be started Friday could not take off as at the last moment the central government denied its entry to the country. But with the help of Sasi Tharoor M.P who contacted Indian foreign affair minister S. Jaishankar, the organizers managed to get the permission from the central government.

With respect to the central government’s approval, the Air India flights will start its journey today from Manama to Kochi and Calicut. The organizers also thanked Union Minister of State for External Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs V. Muraleedharan,Kerala Chief Minister Pinarai Viajayan,N.Premachandran M.P etc.

Another NRI organization which arranged a chartered flight for stranded Indians is Sharjah Indian Association. They will operate 5 chartered flights from Sharjah to India. According to organizers the registration for the journey has started on Friday and within a day about 2000 people have registered.

Earlier, Indian Union home ministry had permitted certain other categories of foreign nationals to come to India, including foreign businessmen coming here on a business visa (other than the B-3 visa for sports), on non-schedule commercial chartered flights.

A senior aviation official said non-schedule commercial charter flights from abroad have been allowed now after the MHA order.Schedule international passengers flights are suspended till the month-end. India had on March 11 suspended most existing visas issued to foreigners.

The categories of foreigners permitted by the MHA to travel to India are: One, foreign businessmen coming to India on a business visa on non-scheduled chartered flights.

Two, foreign healthcare professionals, health researchers, engineers and technicians for technical work at Indian health sector facilities, including laboratories and factories (with) letter of invitation from a recognized and registered healthcare facility, pharmaceutical company or a university in India.

Three, foreign engineering, managerial, design or other specialists travelling to India on behalf of foreign business entities located in India.
And four, foreign technical specialists and engineers travelling for installation and maintenance of foreign-origin machinery and equipment facilities in India, on the invitation of a registered Indian business entity.

The foreigners allowed under these four categories “shall have to obtain a fresh business visa or employment visa, as applicable, from Indian missions abroad.