New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS): GMR Group-led consortium Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) on Monday launched a revamped 'Air Suvidha' portal along with a new RT-PCR test package for arriving international passengers.

The firm manages and operates the national capital's IGI Airport.

Accordingly, the development comes after the Centre issued new guidelines for passengers travelling to India.

The company had launched Air Suvidha, the first-of-its-kind portal, in August last year, where India-bound international passengers could fill the mandatory self-declaration form and also apply online for exemption from mandatory institutional quarantine process.

Notably, the present move comes following increased evidence of circulation of mutant variants of Covid-19 virus.

As per the new guideline, filling up of 'Self Declaration Form' on Delhi Airport's website - www.newdelhiairport.in -- has been made mandatory for all international arriving passengers.

"They also have to upload a mandatory RT-PCR or molecular test report (test undertaken within 72 hours of departure) in the SDF for its completion."

"These forms will help in identifying passengers on flights from the UK, Europe and Middle-East who will undergo mandatory RT-PCR on arrival as well. Passengers can exit after giving the test at the airport and follow government guidelines on quarantine or self-monitoring."

According to the statement, the SDF will also help identify passengers from high-risk countries such as the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa.

"A new field for declaring domestic connection has been added in the 'Air Suvidha' portal. This will help implementation of new SOP for domestic transit passengers and also help improve contact tracing."

"Under the new 'Standard Operating Procedure', passengers with exigency of death in the family can apply for exemption and upload the approved application in SDF in place of RT-PCR test."

Apart from new guidelines, passengers on flights from the UK, Europe and South Africa will have to undergo the mandatory RT-PCR test.

Those flying in from the UK, South Africa and Brazil, direct or in transit, and having a connecting flight will not be allowed to leave the airport till their RT-PCR test report is negative.

"Others would be allowed to leave the airport as per the direction of government officials."