(a) whether the Government proposes to make it mandatory for foreign visitors to give their finger prints from
2016 when an ambitious project to interlink foreign missions and immigration offices across India would be
commissioned; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and the estimated expenditure to be incurred thereon?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDREN)
(a) & (b): A statement is attached.
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PART(a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1539
BY DR. M. JAGANNATH TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2010
(a) & (b): Modernization and up-gradation of Immigration services in the country is a Mission Mode Project
(MMP) to be undertaken by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP).The MMP
is titled “Immigration, Visa and Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT)â€. This Project aims to develop
a secure and integrated service delivery framework to enhance security and facilitation in the Visa issuance
process, strengthen the Immigration function besides fortifying the Foreigners Registration Processes for
effective tracking of foreigners. Authentication of traveller’s identity at the Missions, Immigrations Check
Posts (ICPs) and Foreigners Registration Officers (FROs) through use of intelligent document scanners and
biometrics, including finger prints, is one of the envisaged outcomes of the project.
The total estimated cost of the project is Rs. 1011 crore. The Project is to be implemented in a
planned and phased manner over a period of 4 ½ years i.e.w.e.f. April, 2010 to September, 2014.