Panaji: Union home minister Amit Shah has approved the activation of the fast track immigration–trusted traveller programme (FTI-TTP) for Goa, paving the way for seamless immigration through automated e-gates at the state’s airports, tourism minister Rohan Khaunte said on Wednesday.The programme will improve the travel experience for Indian passengers, including the large Goan diaspora, seafarers, students, and professionals travelling overseas. It is also expected to encourage international and domestic travellers to choose Goa as their preferred entry and exit point due to faster immigration clearance.Khaunte said that this would position Goa advantageously when the programme is extended to foreign nationals under the next phase.“The activation of FTI-TTP in Goa is a transformative step towards enhancing the ease of travel for both Indian and international passengers. Faster immigration, improved passenger convenience, and seamless airport experience will strengthen Goa’s competitiveness as an international tourism gateway while directly benefiting our tourism economy and Goan travellers,” said Khaunte.During his meeting with Shah, Khaunte highlighted Goa’s growing tourism potential and the need to leverage its robust air, road, rail, and water connectivity to further accelerate visitor growth. Khaunte explained how the FTI-TTP, already operational at several major airports across India, would significantly improve the travel experience by enabling registered passengers to complete immigration formalities through biometric-enabled e-gates in under 30 seconds, eliminating long queues and manual processing.The announcement follows Khaunte’s meetings with Shah and Union tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi, where a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen Goa’s tourism ecosystem through improved connectivity, policy reforms, and strategic infrastructure was discussed.Khaunte said that the discussions focused on steps for quality tourism and state govt’s need for assistance to position Goa as an IT and innovation hub.Shah is expected to fly down to Goa on Sep 6 for the presentation ceremony of the President of India’s police colours to Goa police and for the inauguration of the new BJP Goa headquarters.Khaunte emphasised that Goa’s airports are well-positioned for the programme and outlined the multiple benefits it would bring to the state.Chief minister Pramod Sawant returned to Goa on Wednesday after obtaining an assurance from Shah on the demand for reservation for scheduled tribes in the Goa legislative assembly.“I went to Delhi to meet Shah. There were many issues to be discussed, particularly political reservation for the tribals. So I met him and he was positive about it and he said that it would be done as soon as possible,” said Sawant.BJP Goa president Damu Naik said that Shah’s travel plans are yet to be confirmed. Naik said the official schedule would be announced once the dates are finalised. Naik also said the construction of the BJP’s new state office is 95% complete.
