Restricted Areas, Protected Areas: India
Restricted Areas, Protected Areas: India
Restricted and Protected Areas in India
General Provisions
All areas falling between the ‘Inner Line’ as defined in the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958 and the International Border of the State come under the Protected Area
‘Protected’ Areas: a list
Whole of Arunachal Pradesh
Parts of Himachal Pradesh
Parts of Jammu & Kashmir
Parts of Rajasthan
Whole of Sikkim (partly in Protected Area and partly in Restricted Area)
Parts of Uttarakhand
‘Restricted Areas’: a list
Following areas declared as ‘Restricted Areas’ under the Foreigners (Restricted) Areas Order, 1963:
Andaman & Nicobar islands
Sikkim ( Part of the State )
How does a foreign citizen visit one of these areas?
All foreigners, except a citizen of Bhutan, require a special permit to enter and stay in a Protected or Restricted Area
Some areas opened for tourism can be visited after obtaining a special permit
Powers delegated to various authorities to issue special permit
Prior approval of Ministry of Home Affairs required for grant of special permit to citizens of Afghanistan, China & Pakistan and foreign nationals of Pakistan origin
Procedure for grant of Protected/ Restricted Area Permit
Applications can be submitted to:
Indian Mission concerned - by foreign nationals coming as Group Tourists
Any of the authorities to whom powers delegated for issue of special permit – by those already in India
For individuals, prior clearance from Ministry of Home Affairs required
Do’s and don’ts while visiting a Protected/ Restricted Area
Permit is valid for specific tourist circuit/ route and specific entry/ exit point
Permit holder must keep sufficient number of copies of the permit
Permit holder shall not stay in the Protected/ Restricted Area after the expiry of the Permit
A foreigner must enter/ exit the North Eastern States only by air
Travel within the North Eastern States can be through the National Highways or by air. While travelling by road, the tour should be undertaken largely through the National Highways
Main entry/exit point for the North Eastern States is the Guwahati (Dispur) Airport
Protected / Restricted Areas in North Eastern India
Whole of Arunachal Pradesh
Whole of Sikkim - Areas between the West Bengal – Sikkim border and the ‘Inner Line’ come under Restricted Area. Remaining areas falling between the ‘Inner Line’ and the International Border come under the Protected Area
Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland have been excluded from the Protected Area Regime till 31.12.2013
However, prior approval of Ministry of Home Affairs required for – (a) citizens of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and foreign nationals having their origin in these countries and (b) citizens of Myanmar visiting beyond 16 Kms from the Indo-Myanmar border
All foreigners have to register themselves with the Foreigners Registration Officer of the District they visit within 24 hours of arrival.
Circuits opened for tourism in AP and Sikkim
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Along, Deporijo, Itanagar, Pasighat, Ziro
Mia, Namdapha, , Sejus (Puki) , Sejus (Puki), Tipi
Bhalukpong
Pasighat-Jengging-Yingkiong-Tuting
Bhalukpong-Bomdilla-Tawang
Roing-Mayodila-Anini
Tezu-Hayuling
Along-Mechukha
Deporijo-Nacho circuit via Taliha and Sayum
Ziro-Palin-Nyapin-Sangram-Kaloriang
Doimukh-Sagalee-Pakke Kasang-Seppa
(1) Foreign tourists in a group of two or more, duly sponsored by a recognized travel agency in India and with a pre-drawn itinerary; and
(2) A foreigner married to an Indian national belonging to Arunachal Pradesh visiting on a Tourist Visa -
are permitted to visit the above places for a period of 30 days after obtaining the Protected Area Permit
Authorities delegated powers to issue Protected Area Permit
Ministry of Home Affairs
All Indian Missions abroad
FRROs at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Amritsar, Hyderabad and Bangalore
Home Commissioner, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar
Resident Commissioner of Arunachal Pradesh at Delhi; and
Secretary (Tourism), Government of Arunachal Pradesh.
Prior approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs required for grant of PAP to a citizen of Myanmar
SIKKIM
Some places in Protected Areas opened for tourism can be visited for a specified duration after obtaining the Protected Area Permit
Places of tourist interest falling in the Restricted Area of Sikkim i.e. Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodang and Pemayangtse can also be visited by individual foreign tourists for a period up to 15 days after obtaining Restricted Area Permit
Prior approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs necessary for grant of a RAP/PAP to a citizen of Myanmar
Authorities delegated powers to issue a Restricted Area Permit
(1)Ministry of Home Affairs
(2)All Indian Missions abroad
(3)FRROs at Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Amritsar, Hyderabad and Bangalore
(4)Immigration Officer at the Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai airports
(5)Chief Secretary / Home Secretary / Secretary (Tourism) to the Government of Sikkim, Gangtok
(6)I.G Police, Sikkim, Gangtok
(7) Assistant Director, Government of Sikkim, Siliguri
(8)Deputy Director (Tourism), Government of Sikkim, New Delhi
(9)Resident Commissioner, Government. of Sikkim, New Delhi
(10)Assistant Resident Commissioner, Government of Sikkim, Kolkata
(11)Tourist Officer, Rengpo
(12)Deputy Commissioner, Darjeeling
(13)Deputy Secretary / Under Secretary, Home Department, Government of West Bengal, Kolkata
