TRAVEL TO NAGPUR
I had occasion to travel to Nagpur /na:gpu:r/, Maharashtra, towards the end of September 2021. Looking to make reservations for air travel from Cochin more than a month ahead of the trip, the flight plan of Indigo Airlines showed up as taking the shortest time – Cochin to Nagpur via Mumbai, with a few hours’ break and a flight change there. I confirmed bookings for the same.
Preparations to travel to Nagpur
The COVID 19 pandemic which has been directing people’s lives for the past one and a half years now dictates travel protocols. As mandated by the airlines I completed the Check in online (web check in) 48 hours before flight, and generated the boarding pass and baggage tag. But then, only on submitting the nine point self-health declaration form, did these documents get e mailed to me.
The latest government advice on traveling to the destination city/ State had to be complied with. Since depending on the existing COVID situation, protocols may change from city to city in the same state, I checked on conditions for Maharashtra in general and also for both Mumbai and Nagpur. It required a negative RT-PCR 72 hours before arrival or a final vaccination certificate for those who had taken both doses and completed 15 days from receipt of second dose. For convenience, I got my final vaccination certificate laminated into a card and kept it along with my other photo ID cards, – but of course, this card had Prime Minister Modi’s photo imprinted on it. Downloading of the Indian COVID 19 contact tracing mobile app ‘Aarogya Setu’ was another requirement.
In order to return home to Kerala three days later, I had to register in the COVID 19 Jagratha portal, – part of the State mechanism for pandemic management and surveillance – and procure an e pass or domestic permit. Once the paper work was completed, I collected all my travel documents into a transparent folder and kept it in my handbag, as it seemed to be the only way to get organised.
Journey Begins:
Cochin to Nagpur via Mumbai
I start from Cochin International Airport early morning. At the CIAL entrance, the security standing behind protective screens did the temperature screening and checked the boarding pass and ID before allowing me to enter the airport. Personnel remained behind protective screens at the check in desk, baggage drop and security clearance areas. In addition to constant use of face masks and hand sanitising, queuing systems ensured social distancing everywhere and in the seating area only alternate chairs were available for use. Contactless travel was the rule of the day.
Once airborne, out of the window I notice the clouds form a firmament mid-air with a pale moon above it.
I travel through fluffy white floating cotton ball clouds and later, when the pilot warned us of turbulence, through patches of greyish clouds that seemed to signal thunder storms.
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