In one of the largest evacuation exercises named “Vande Bharat Mission“, the government will operate 64 flights between May 7 to 13 to bring home nearly 14,800 Indian nationals stranded abroad due to the coronavirus lockdown.
India will send 10 flights to the UAE, seven flights each to the US and the UK, five flights to Saudi Arabia, five to Singapore, and two to Qatar to repatriate Indian nationals, Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.
During this period, India will also send seven flights each to Malaysia and Bangladesh, five flights each to Kuwait and Philippines, two flights each to Oman, and Bahrain, Puri added.
These special flights will be operated by Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express.
The government said only those who test Covid-19 negative would be allowed to travel.
Priority will be given to “compelling cases in distress”, including migrant workers/laborers who have been laid off, short term visa holders faced with the expiry of visas, persons with medical emergencies, pregnant women, the elderly, those who are required to return due to death of a family member, and students.
Passengers will be charged Rs 50,000 each for London-Delhi/Mumbai/Ahmedabad/Bangalore flights and Rs 12,000 for Dhaka-Delhi flight. Passengers being repatriated from the US will be charged Rs 1 lakh, while those from Dubai will have to shell out Rs 13,000.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will give travellers two days’ notice with the schedule (day, place, and time of arrival) of the incoming flight on its website. Onboard, the health protocol announced by the MoCA will be applicable.
On arrival, all passengers will undergo mandatory institutional quarantine for a minimum of 13 days, at their own cost.
The Aarogya Setu mobile app is mandatory for travellers.
Here is the full fare list of evacuation flights:
From London
| ORIGIN | DESTINATION | FLYING TIME | INR | GBP @ 93.24 |
| LONDON | MUMBMUMBAI | 9 hours | 50000 | 540 |
| LONDON | AHMEDABAD | 9 hours | 50000 | 540 |
| LONDON | BANGALORE | 9.7 Hrs | 50000 | 540 |
| LONDON | DELHI | 9.25 Hrs | 50000 | 540 |
From USA
| ORIGIN | DESTINATION | FLYING TIME | INR | USD @ 75 |
| CHICAGO | DEL/HYD | 14.35 | 100,000 | 1361.4 |
| SFO | DEL/BLR | 15.55 | 100,000 | 1361.4 |
| NEWARK | BOM/AMD | 14 | 100,000 | 1361.4 |
| IAD | DEL/HYD | 14.15 | 100,000 | 1361.4 |
From Dhaka
| ORIGIN | DESTINATION | FLYING TIME | INR | USD @ 75 |
| DHAKA | DELHI | 2.15 | 12000 | 160 |
| DHAKA | SRINAGAR | 3.3 | 15000 | 200 |
From Dubai
| ORIGIN | DESTINATION | FLYING TIME | INR | AED @ 21.50 |
| DUBAI | AMRITSAR | 03:10 | 13000 | 605 |
| DUBAI | KOCHI | 03:45 | 13000 | 605 |
| DUBAI | DELHI | 03:10 | 13000 | 605 |
| ABU DHABI | HYDERABAD | 03:40 | 15000 | 700 |
From Jeddha
| ORIGIN | DESTINATION | FLYING TIME | INR | SAR @ 19 |
| JEDDAH | DELHI | 05:15 | 25000 | 1350 |
From Kuwait
| ORIGIN | DESTINATION | FLYING TIME | INR | KWD @ 241.20 |
| KUWAIT | AHMEDABAD | 03:30 | 14000 | 58.7 |
| KUWAIT | HYDERABAD | 04:25 | 20000 | 85 |
From Singapore
| ORIGIN | DESTINATION | FLYING TIME | INR | SGO @ 53 |
| SINGAPORE | DELHI | 5.5 | 20000 | 380 |
| SINGAPORE | AHMEDABAD | 4.9 | 20000 | 380 |
| SINGAPORE | BANGALORE | 4.5 | 18000 | 340 |
From Kuala Lumpur
| ORIGIN | DESTINATION | FLYING TIME | INR | MYR @ 17.6 |
| KUL | MUMBAI 5.1 | 5.1 | 20000 | 1150 |
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India to operate 64 flights in 7 days to bring back 15,000 Indians stranded abroad
