As part of its various measures to combat the novel COVID-19, the Government of India recently issued a domestic travel advisory for passengers taking the air, road and rail routes. It, however, asked States/UTs to develop and execute their own protocols as per their assessment of the situation.  

From mandatory face masks and thermal screening at all entry/exit points to downloading the Aarogya Setu app, here’s the complete list of domestic travel guidelines furnished by the GOI for the ease of passengers.

In the Article

Common Domestic Travel Guidelines for Air Travel, Train and Inter-state Road Movement

  1. Only passengers without COVID-19 symptoms/asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to travel and on arrival will have to self-monitor their health for 14 days.
  2. If passengers, of domestic travel by air, train and inter-state bus, develop any COVID-like symptoms after the journey, they will need to inform the district surveillance officer or the state/national call centre (1075) immediately.
  3. Downloading the contact tracing Aarogya Setu application is a must
  4. States have been asked to ensure thermal screening at entry and exit points of airports, railway stations and bus terminals
  5. Passengers are required to wear face masks throughout the journey.
  6. Passengers to follow hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene and maintain environmental hygiene.
  7. No breach in social distancing to be entertained
  8. Those found symptomatic will be isolated and taken to the nearest health facility. They will be assessed for clinical severity.
  9. Those having moderate or severe symptoms will be admitted to a COVID health facility and treated accordingly.
  10. Travellers showing mild symptoms will be given the choice of home isolation or isolated in the Covid Care Centre (both public & private facilities) as appropriate

Read these State-wise Quarantine Rules to Avoid any Inconvenience

Domestic Travel Guidelines Exclusively for Air Passengers

  1. Travellers must arrive at the airport via their personal or an authorized vehicle only.
  2. Aarogya Setu app must for all passengers, except those below 14 years of age
  3. Only passengers who have completed web check-in will be allowed to enter the airport. Please do carry an e-boarding pass on your mobile. Alternatively, you can carry the printout of the boarding pass.
  4. No physical check-in will be allowed at the airport. Passengers shall compulsorily walk through a thermal screening zone before entering the terminal
  5. Only 1 cabin baggage and 1 check-in baggage will be allowed per passenger.
  6. Travellers are required to print and paste a pre-filled baggage tag (included in the booking) and affix it on the bags. Alternatively, they should mention the PNR number and name on paper and affix it on their bags.
  7. Passengers should report at the airport at least 2 hours before the departure time.
  8. Only passengers who have flights departing in the next 4 hours will be allowed to enter the terminal.
  9. All passengers have to go through a temperature check.
  10. Travellers will be required to sign self-declaration forms. In case of a PNR having more than one passenger, the declaration would be deemed to be covering all the passengers mentioned in the PNR.
  11. Wearing a face mask is compulsory
  12. No meal service or magazines will be available on-board
  13. The use of trolley is not allowed. However, passengers genuinely needing trolleys will be provided with the same on request.
  14. Any vulnerable person, including the elderly, expecting women and passengers with prior health issues should avoid travel.

State-wise Travel Guidelines

With the imposition of different quarantine rules by states, a lot of passengers are in chaos. Hence, here we present the state-wise quarantine guidelines and rules for a trouble-free movement of travellers from one state to another.

1. Karnataka Travel Advisory

As per the latest update, now only passengers coming from Maharashtra have to undergo compulsory 7 days institutional quarantine followed by 7 days home isolation. The same was earlier applicable on Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Gujarat passengers too. Only travellers on work trips will be exempted if they bring test results that are not more than two days old and show them COVID-negative. Further, downloading Seva Sindhu app is mandatory at least 4 days before travel and even after the journey. The state government has also requested the civil aviation ministry to restrict the number of flights from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for the rapid surge in the numbers of COVID-19 cases. 

2. Delhi Travel Advisory

There is no mandatory quarantine policy. However, travellers are advised to strictly adhere to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Further, those with mild symptoms will be allowed to opt for either home isolation or government/private isolation facility, and will later be tested for COVID-19. Arogya Setu app is mandatory for all.

Latest Update: In a recent step to combat COVID-19, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority has issued a statement that all asymptomatic passengers who enter Delhi via air, rail or road will have to home quarantine themselves for seven days. This is a change in previous policy where quarantine was not compulsory; however, travellers were advised to adhere to the MHA guidelines. Further, those with mild symptoms will be allowed to opt for either home isolation or government/private isolation facility, and will later be tested for COVID-19. Arogya Setu app is mandatory for all.

3. Uttar Pradesh Travel Advisory

A 14-day home quarantine is mandatory for all travellers with an exception to those on a business visit, staying for less than a week or those who produce negative COVID-19 report. All passengers coming to UP will have to register themselves on http://reg.upcovid.in and furnish details of themselves and others travelling with them.

4. West Bengal Travel Advisory

Travellers have to opt for 14 days  of home or institutional quarantine depending upon the severity of COVID-19 symptoms

5. Punjab Travel Advisory

Compulsory 14 days home quarantine for asymptomatic passengers. Symptomatic passengers would be sent to institutional quarantine.

6. Kerala Travel Advisory

Home quarantine of 14 days is compulsory for all travellers except for those coming for business purposes or shorter duration. The guidelines issued mentioned that symptomatic people will be sent to either COVID Care Centre or hospital.   

7. Tamil Nadu Travel Advisory

All passengers to undergo 14 days mandatory home quarantine. Those testing COVID-19 positive and having moderate or severe symptoms will be admitted to a hospital or a health centre. Travellers with mild symptoms will be given the option of home isolation. All air passengers flying into Tamil Nadu should obtain a “TN e-pass” available on the TN e-pass portal.  

8. Assam Travel Advisory

Thermal screen and 14 days home or government quarantine is a must for all travellers landing in Assam. 

9. Andhra Pradesh Travel Advisory

Those coming from high incidence areas including Delhi, Gujarat, Chennai, Mumbai, Rajasthan & M.P. will have to go for 7 days institutional quarantine & rest for 14 days home quarantine. Once their test results for COVID-19 come negative, they will be relieved from isolation. Enrolment on Spandana website before buying tickets is a must for all travellers.     

10. Jammu and Kashmir Travel Advisory

Mandatory testing of all passengers and 14 days institutional quarantine or till the test results are reported negative.      

11. Meghalaya Travel Advisory

All travellers to put in 48 hours institutional quarantine and only post test results showing COVID-19 negative will they be allowed to go home.

12. Rajasthan Travel Advisory

Home quarantine of 14 days for all passengers. Travellers on less than 7 days trip are exempted provided they show COVID-19 negative report conducted 2 days prior to the journey.

13. Himachal Pradesh Travel Advisory

Himachal Pradesh has decided that it will only allow residents of the state to fly in. These people will have to undergo thermal screening and will be quarantined for 28 days – 7 days at an institutional facility and 21 days at home.

14. Goa Travel Advisory

Asymptomatic passengers to take 14 days home quarantine and those showing symptoms and have an international travel history to undergo mandatory testing and institutional quarantine.

15. Maharashtra Travel Advisory

As per Maharashtra government quarantine rules, all travellers coming to the state will be stamped on their hand to show that they are meant to be in home isolation for 14 days. However, an exemption is given to those coming for less than a week provided they declare that they are not coming from a containment zone and do not have any symptoms or history of the novel coronavirus.

Hope the above information is greatly helpful to you in your next travel plans.