Mumbai. 14 September 2020. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has launched an express COVID-19 RT-PCR test facility for all passengers arriving at the airport. Located near the exit gates of the airport, the testing facility is available around the clock at a very reasonable cost to all passengers. CSMIA plans to further extend this availability of this service for passengers departing from CSMIA shortly as well.
As per the latest directive by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), airports were directed to implement a testing facility at the airport for international transit passengers booked on a connecting domestic flight; CSMIA has expanded on this initiative to make this facility available to all passengers at the airport. In compliance with the standards of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), the RT-PCR test is available at a charge of Rs. 1600 onwards. Passengers can make an online booking on www.suburbandiagnostics.com or register themselves at the helpdesk set up at the arrival terminal to enroll for the RT-PCR test and receive a digital and physical copy of the test report in under 8 hours. This facility is currently operational at the airport for all arriving passengers at the airport; all international passengers are advised to book their connecting flight with a gap of 8-12 hours.
Upon submission of test samples, arriving passengers will be guided to a waiting lounge with special F&B arrangements while waiting on the test report. Alternatively, passengers can also opt to book a room at the airport hotel, with the approval of the state authorities. Passengers who have tested negative will be allowed to proceed onward to their final destinations; they will receive a stamp indicating a home quarantine by the state officials. In the event of a positive report, passengers will be transferred by the state authorities to a designated institution. CSMIA plans to further extend the RT-CPR test service to passengers departing from the airport shortly wherein passengers can opt to undergo the test before departing from the airport and have their report emailed to them.
The initiative of RT-PCR testing at the airport is amongst the latest concessions undertaken by MoCA to ease the journey of all international arriving passengers. As per an earlier initiative, all international arriving passengers could opt for an exemption from institutional quarantine by filling in an online self-declaration form as well as uploading the results of an RT-PCR test undertaken within 96 hours before the scheduled journey. International arriving passengers exiting at CSMIA could display the results of the RT-PCR test to opt out of the institutional quarantine and instead observe a 14-day home quarantine.
CSMIA diligently abides by the preventive protocols indicated by the Government of India and implements the SOPs to safeguard the overall wellbeing of its passengers. With the commencement of this initiative, passengers will be able to travel through CSMIA with minimal restrictions and enjoy a hassle-free journey.
