With international airports across the country adhering to the Centre’s revised Covid guidelines in the wake of the Omicron variant, passengers from countries considered “at-risk” are required to undergo a mandatory RT-PCR test upon arrival, including those fully vaccinated.
Amid these rules, the rates of the RT-PCR test, long queues, crowding and potential delays have been major concerns for international travellers, with some airports charging over Rs 3,000 for a rapid test.
The Mumbai International Airport Limited run by Adani Airports had reduced the rate of a rapid PCR test to Rs 3,900 per test from the earlier rate of Rs 4,500.
A normal RT-PCR test costs Rs 600, a statement by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport said.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Maharashtra Health Department Dr Pradeep Vyas on Tuesday wrote to the Union Ministry of Health stating that the rates of Rapid RT-PCR tests at the Mumbai airport are too high.
According to airport officials, there are two testing options at the Indira Gandhi International Airport: The first is to pay Rs 500 for the test. The test results takes around six to eight hours.
The second is to pay Rs 3,500 for a rapid PCR test and get the report in approximately 60 to 90 minutes.
The Chennai International Airport on Tuesday reduced its RT-PCR rates. It is now charging Rs 2,900 for a Rapid PCR test, down from the earlier Rs 3, 400. The rate of a normal RT-PCR has also been reduced from Rs 700 to Rs 600.
The Kolkata International Airport charges Rs 700 for a normal RT-PCR test and Rs 3,600 for a rapid PCR test. The time for results for both the tests is six hours and one hour, respectively.
The Kolkata International Airport charges Rs 700 for a normal RT-PCR test and Rs 3,600 for a rapid PCR test. The time for results for both the tests is six hours and one hour, respectively.
The Karnataka government on Tuesday capped the prices for Covid testing at the airports. At the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, while the conventional RT-PCR test, which takes the most time (nearly five hours to obtain results) is priced at Rs 500, the Cepheid Gene Expert test (results expected in 25 minutes) costs Rs 2,750 per sample.
According to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport’s website, a rapid PCR test will cost a passenger Rs 2,700.
The Calicut International Airport on Tuesday announced that it has slashed the rates of a rapid PCR test to Rs 1,580.
An RT-PCR test at the GMR Hyderabad International Airport costs Rs 750 and a rapid PCR test costs Rs 3,900. The airport has a designated lab, Mapmygenome to book and conduct the tests.
08/12/21 Indian Express
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