India Opens Major Visa Center, Ups Flights to Philippines

Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) opened the world's largest-ever Indian visa center Saturday after Home Minister Rajnath Singh handed passports with Indian visas to applicants.

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Among those issued, were a five-year multiple entry tourist visa in the freedom fighter category, a five-year multiple entry tourist visa in the senior citizen category, a one-year multiple entry tourist visa and a six-month triple entry medical visa.

The IVAC is an 18,500 square feet commercial area with computer-generated token vending machines, comfortable air-conditioned waiting area, coffee and soft drinks vending machines, food kiosks and as many as 48 counters for the submission of applications.

There will be special counters designated for senior citizens, women, freedom fighters and business applicants.

Singh was in the company of Special Secretary (Border Management), Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, Braj Raj Sharma, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Jamuna Group Chairman Nurul Islam Babul, who all participated in the inauguration ceremony.

The commissioner explained that the new integrated visa center will issue an average of 5,000 visas daily. Shringla also remarked that the Indian High Commission in Dhaka issued 1.4 million visas last year.

In addition to the IVAC, India's Ministry of Civil Aviation has strengthened aviation ties with the Philippines after negotiations on July 11 and July 12. Both countries will operate 28 weekly flights to major cities, enabling direct flights.