Mumbai’s CSMIA Ramps Up Safety Measures Against Omicron

While Omicron is on the run, additional facilities and arrangements are coming in place for passengers convenience and travel advisory in view of the latest Govt. of India and Govt. of Maharashtra guidelines.

All required procedures have been put in place at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to implement the Ministry of Health’s latest COVID-19 guidelines for international travelers arriving in India. Omicron (B.1.1.529) has been categorized as a COVID-19 Variant of Concern, according to the World Health Organization. The revised guidelines will go into effect on December 1, 2021.

Passengers wanting to travel to or through India must complete a self-declaration form on the Air Suvidha online portal, which includes a copy of their passport, a copy of their COVID-19 RT-PCR report that is no more than 72 hours old, and a certification of the test report’s authenticity.

Unless confirmed symptomatic for COVID-19 on arrival or during the home quarantine period, children under the age of five are excluded from both pre-arrival and post-arrival testing.

All passengers should check the new travel regulations well in advance of their trip. (GOMCovid19ORDER 30 11 2021.pdf) contains detailed instructions (adaniairports.com)

For the safety and convenience of arriving travelers, CSMIA has made comprehensive measures, including additional testing and resting facilities.

Among the many expanded safety and convenience measures put in place to serve foreign travelers are larger waiting and seating areas with required amenities, additional counters and booths for registration and sampling, and more ground employees for speedier passenger processing.

The following are the procedures followed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport:

MUMBAI — The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is located in Mumbai. According to the most recent directive issued by the State Government, CSMIA is equipped with the following preparedness as of 01.12.201:

1. Travelers from high-risk nations will be separated from passengers from low-risk countries at the airport.
2. Passengers traveling from at-risk countries (as defined by a GOI order of November 30, 2021) must undertake an obligatory 7-day institutional quarantine and RTPCR test at the quarantine facility on days 2, 4, and 7. If any of the tests come back positive, the passenger will be taken to the hospital. If all of the tests are negative, the traveler will be subjected to 7-day home quarantine.
3. Passengers from all other countries, save the at-risk countries, will be required to undergo an RTPCR test upon arrival at CSMIA, and if confirmed negative, will be subjected to 14-day home quarantine. If they are found to be positive, they will be taken to the hospital.
4. 48 registration stations and 40 sampling booths provide adequate RT-PCR testing facilities in overseas arrivals.
5. The following laboratories are available for RT-PCR testing/Rapid PCR in international arrivals: Northstar / Lifenity / Suburban Diagnostics / Acu-MDx (Mylabs) / Lifenity / Suburban Diagnostics / Acu-MDx (Mylabs) / Lifenity / Suburban Diagnostics

In addition to standard RT-PCR, 30 Rapid PCR machines, are available for the passengers having connecting onward flights with short connecting time. This facility will be upscaled further if required.

1. Passengers can pre-book their RTPCR / Rapid PCR test at the following weblinks

• Northstar (as of now only Rapid PCR. They will soon add RTPCR) – https://bit.ly/3uozZ18
• Suburban – https://www.suburbandiagnostics.com/book-test/
• Lifenity- https://disha.lifenitywellness.com/EhatEnterprise/ehat_online_registration.jsp

1. Passengers who have not done their pre booking of RT-PCR test online, QR codes have been displayed at various locations in the arrival corridor.
2. Physical forms for RT-PCR registration are made available to passengers on board with help of airlines which they can fill before disembarking from flight & thus avoid queuing for the registration on arrival.
3. A large sitting area for the passengers awaiting their RT-PCR results has been be activated with Amenities like washrooms, Food and Beverage.
4. CSMIA has also sensitised relevant stakeholders on the new guidelines & the added facilities for passengers’ convenience.
5. Passengers are required to be taken to quarantine / hotel facility as per the GoM guidelines, dated 30^th November 2021, a dedicated transportation lobby is available & dedicated buses have been made available for the same with help of MCGM.
6. MCGM has arranged adequate number of beds ready for institutional quarantine (self-paid hotels / free MCGM facility)
7. In case of an International passenger having a connecting flight to any other airport in India, without leaving the airport at all, passenger shall undergo an RTPCR test at the first arrival airport in Maharashtra and only on being found negative will be allowed to board the connecting flight.  At CSMIA, both standard RTPCR and Rapid PCR is available.
8. Incase such a passenger is taking a connecting flight to an airport in Maharashtra, passenger shall be subjected to quarantine at the first landing airport.
9. In case of domestic air travel, passenger travelling within the state of Maharashtra will either need to be fully vaccinated or compulsorily carry a negative RTPCR test within 48 hours of the time of arrival.
10. Incase of passengers from other states travelling to Maharashtra, a negative RTPCR test within 48 hours of arrival will be compulsory without exception.

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