On arrival e-visa facility for tourists from 87 countries at Gaya airport

GAYA: In a major initiative to boost tourism in the area, particularly to attract more footfalls at the world famous Mahabodhi temple, Bodh Gaya, the seat of Buddha's enlightenment and a Unesco world heritage site, the Government of India has approved on arrival e-visa facility at Gaya International Airport for visitors from 87 countries including Europe, USA, Japan, South Korea and Thailand.

The facility is likely to be introduced before the onset of tourist season 2015-16 beginning October this year. Participants at the Kalchakra 2016, the most important Buddhist ritual conducted by his Holiness, the Dalai Lama, will benefit from on arrival e-visa facility.

Immigration system at the airport is being designed to meet the logistical requirements of on arrival e-visa. However, visitors from neighbouring Pakistan will not be in a position to avail on arrival e-visa facility as thorough background check of visitors from the country is conducted by the Indian Embassy in Islamabad before granting visa to Pakistan nationals.

Sources also said that even Pakistani-origin American and European country nationals including those from Britain and France etc will not be entitled to on arrival e-visa facility. Pak origin nationals of other countries too figure high on the radar of security agencies.

Only recently, a Karachi-born Thai national allegedly committed fraud at Bodh Gaya and made a successful exit from the country taking advantage of the foreign national tag and reluctance of local police to act against offenders from outside the country.

Confirming the on arrival e-visa facility at Gaya International Airport for the passport holders of 87 different countries, Gaya airport director Dilip Kumar said, "Gaya airport is the only one in eastern India selected for this facility."

However, the director did not reveal the exact schedule of the introduction of the facility. According to him, immigration officials are engaged in readying the mechanism for implementation of on arrival e-visa scheme. However, he said the facility will be soon available.