With the Centre planning to open up the skies for passenger travel soon after May 17, flyers may have to compulsorily download the government's Aarogya Setu app, developed to track Covid-19 patients. "People whose Aarogya Setu app is not ‘green’ are not to be allowed inside the terminal building. Persons above 80 years will also be restricted in the first phase of resumption," reported the Business Standard.
The news comes even as privacy and digital rights actvists have flagged the security concerns in the app. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hinted that the app may be used as an e-pass for travel amid nation-wide lockdown to fight Coronavirus. On par with the PM's announcement, the Railways on Monday has "advised" train passengers to install the Aarogya Setu app for travel from Tuesday.
According to sources, aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is gearing up to resume domestic passenger flight operations in a phased manner from May 17. As a result, the authorities are drafting various guidelines for passengers, on par and more stricter than those imposed on train travellers beginning May 11.
Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri's tweet on Sunday also signalled the changing travelling norms in the times to comes. "The times they are a-changing! Not a scene from a sci-fi blockbuster but a picture of passengers with face shields on-board the Singapore-Mumbai flight which landed earlier today. Preventive measures are the new normal. Changes are here to stay," the minister tweeted.
Reportedly, food will not be served on short distance flights. Pre-packaged food will be kept on the seats prior to boarding while airlines could also allow passengers to carry their own food. Other measures will include boarding of just three rows at a time. Airports will also be required to ensure a two-metre distancing during check-in and security check.
In addition, there will be a vacant seat between every two passengers. Airlines will be asked to reduce the passenger capacity per flight to reduce the crowd.
The DGCA on March 19 had announced that no international commercial passenger flight operations will take place in India from 1.30 am on March 23, while domestic flight operations were ceased from March 24.
