India offers free SIMs to foreign tourists

February 17 (notintown.net): India has decided to start giving free pre-activated SIM cards to foreign tourists arriving in India.

The country’s tourism minister Mahesh Sharma recently launched the scheme which will only be available to tourists arriving in India on e-Visa.

Sharma said this initiative will facilitate the foreign tourists in communicating with their acquaintances immediately after their arrival in India.

Earlier, the country’s tourism ministry had also launched a 24X7 Tourist Helpline 1800111363 in 12 foreign languages.

This initiative has been launched in association with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL), wherein BSNL would distribute the pre-activated SIM Cards to foreign tourists arriving in India.

This facility will be initially available in the Indira Gandhi International Airport (T3 Terminal), New Delhi, and later cover remaining 15 international airports, where e-Visa facility is currently available.

To avail pre-loaded Sim Card, BSNL will collect a copies of the e-Visa and the first page of passport of the tourist concerned on their arrival at the airport.

These SIM cards will be pre-loaded with a value of INR50 talktime and 50MB data and can be used instantly.