The Phase 7 of Vande Bharat Mission to repatriate Indians stranded abroad due to covid 19 pandemic will start from October 29, according to Union Civil aviation Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri. Till now more than 27 lakh people have been brought home in Vande Bharat special flights.  On October 25 alone,  4322 Indians were brought home by Vande Bharat Mission flights. This includes 125 persons from Sharjah to Tiruchirapalli, 100 persons from Anu Dhabi to Chennai and Madurai, 307 persons from Toronto to Delhi-Chennai and 321 persons from Chicago to Delhi-Chennai.

Vande Bharat Mission was started on May 7 by Union Government to repatriate Indians stranded abroad and to transport people from other countries stranded in India due to covid 19 lockdown .  The first phase of Vande Bharat started on May 7,  lasted till May 17 with 84 services from between India and various countries like the US, UK, UAE, Philippines, Saudi Arabia , Malaysia. The second phase of Vande Bharat Mission was started on May 16 and was extended till June 13. The third phase started from June 10  lasted till June 22 with more than 130 flight services from various countries like Singapore , UAE Saudi Arabia Qatar to India. The fourth phase of Vande Bharat started on July 1. In Vande Bharat Mission Phase V, more than 766 flights were operated from various destinations like Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bangkok, Colombo, Dares Salam, Riyadh to Indian cities. Air India Express operated special flights between Tiruchirapalli and Singapore. The Sixth Phase of Vande Bharat Mission started from September 1 will end by this month end overlapping with seventh phase with more than 1626 flights. Air India Express is operating special flights between Trichy and Muscat on October 28 and 29. Already two flights were operated in the sector this week. Trichy Bahrain special Vande Bharat flight will be operated on November 16. On one side,

there is covid 19 pandemic still around with continuing efforts to control it   and people wanting  to move on with their work for their livelihood  on the other. Vande Bharat Mission is still giving a big support to Indians working abroad by connecting workers with their families. Now that many countries have announced unlock relaxations and business slowly limping back to normalcy, there will be passengers going back abroad in pursuit of jobs. Of course Union government is helping to repatriate labourers and workers who have returned home from abroad and other states through several schemes including Atma Nirbhar India scheme.

******

(Release ID: 1667564)