CHANDIGARH: It is not only Gulf countries where women from India, who had gone there on the pretext of a job offer, got trapped; Malaysia has now become the new destination.

Women, especially from Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, are being taken to this Southeast Asian nation with promises of legitimate domestic work. Travel agents use the visa-free entry route to lure them, after which they are forced to live and work in conditions described as unstable and precarious.

In an advisory issued on September 9 this year, the High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur (Labour Wing), in a document titled “Indian nationals getting stranded in Malaysia”, a copy of which is with this newspaper, stated: “The majority of the affected individuals are unskilled/semi-skilled labourers and hail from several states in India including Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh. They are invariably misled with false promises of employment by unscrupulous agents in India and Malaysia.”

“The following issues of concern came to the notice of the High Commission: Indian nationals travelling under the pretext of tourism but intending to look for employment are often denied entry on arrival. Those who manage to enter the country often overstay beyond 30 days and are thus declared ‘illegal’. Entry is also refused to those Indian nationals who are genuine tourists but fail to provide valid documentation, including return tickets, proof of accommodation, and financial means,” it stated.

It further read: “It has been observed that unscrupulous agents in India and Malaysia entice a number of Indian nationals with prospects of employment and arrange their travel to Malaysia on the pretext of tourism to get visa-free entry and stay for 30 days in Malaysia. Such individuals become illegal after expiry of 30 days and are thus vulnerable to various forms of exploitation locally. They are also subjected to detention, imprisonment and associated legal actions by Malaysian enforcement agencies.”

The High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur has further advised all State Governments, Protectors of Emigrants (PoE) and immigration officers to issue public advisories and exercise strict scrutiny of Indian nationals, especially ECR passport holders, departing to Malaysia from international airports including Trichy, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Cochin, Bengaluru and Amritsar.

It has also been stated that passengers deceived by agents should be encouraged to provide full details of such agents, and that information may be compiled and shared with state and central government authorities for appropriate action.

The Chandigarh Administration has prepared a comprehensive master plan to boost tourism by integrating cultural circuits that connect heritage landmarks, natural attractions, and modern sites. The initiative aims to offer visitors a complete tourism experience while enhancing the city’s profile as both a cultural and modern destination.

According to Tourism Department officials, infrastructure upgrades are already underway. Iconic attractions such as the Rock Garden and city gardens are being modernised with improved facilities. A digital museum at the Le Corbusier Centre is also in development to showcase the city’s rich architectural legacy and modernist design heritage.

The plan emphasises eco-tourism and cultural tourism as major focus areas. Activities like trekking, boating, and cycling will be promoted alongside lake tourism and green spaces. Festivals, exhibitions, and cultural performances will be used to highlight the city’s vibrant artistic and cultural identity, enriching visitor experiences and community engagement.

Officials stated that these projects will not only improve visitor satisfaction but also position Chandigarh as a balanced blend of heritage and modernity. By promoting sustainable and eco-friendly tourism, the initiative aims to create long-term economic opportunities while maintaining the city’s unique identity envisioned by Le Corbusier.

Despite its popularity among domestic travellers, Chandigarh attracts relatively fewer foreign tourists. Ministry of Tourism data shows that while lakhs of Indian visitors arrive annually, foreign arrivals remain limited. In 2019, the city welcomed 15.63 lakh domestic tourists but only 44,132 foreigners, and numbers dropped drastically during the pandemic years.

Tourism is now rebounding, with 2024 recording nearly 10 lakh domestic visitors and 39,058 foreigners — the highest foreign arrivals since the pandemic. With the new master plan under schemes such as Swadesh Darshan, the Administration hopes to scale up both domestic and international tourism, ensuring Chandigarh becomes a leading urban destination in India.

With rising fuel prices and increasing global pressure to reduce carbon emissions, airlines are under constant demand to improve efficiency. Air India Group is taking proactive measures by adopting SITA OptiFlight and SITA eWAS, two cutting-edge digital solutions designed to optimise flight operations. This marks a significant milestone in the airline’s ongoing modernisation journey.

The rollout covers Air India’s Airbus A320 and Air India Express Boeing 737 fleets, operating across both domestic and international routes. Deployment for the widebody fleet is also planned in the near future. By leveraging these technologies, Air India expects to cut carbon emissions by nearly 35,000 tons annually, contributing directly to its sustainability goals.

SITA OptiFlight is a suite of intelligence tools that optimise critical phases of flight. At its center is OptiClimb, a climb optimisation solution that uses historical flight data, aircraft-specific models, and weather forecasts to generate tailored climb profiles. This enables pilots to cut fuel consumption during the most energy-intensive stage of flight while maintaining performance and safety.

SITA eWAS complements this by providing pilots with real-time weather updates and predictive forecasting. Equipped with this tool, crews can avoid turbulence, re-route more effectively, and make smarter in-flight decisions. Together, these systems empower pilots with actionable data that improves efficiency while supporting Air India’s environmental commitments.

Industry experts highlight this move as a strong example of how airlines can balance regulatory pressures with operational needs. Sumesh Patel, President, Asia Pacific at SITA, stated that predictive solutions like OptiFlight® and eWAS demonstrate how digital innovation can cut emissions, save fuel, and unlock real operational value.

Echoing this sentiment, Basil Kwauk, Chief Operations Officer at Air India, emphasised that sustainability and efficiency remain at the core of the airline’s transformation into a world-class carrier. By integrating advanced tools into daily operations, Air India is not only reducing its carbon footprint but also aligning itself with the global drive towards greener aviation.