India airports, BOM, DEL, CCU, MAA

Is it true that Customs Green Channel at Bombay International Arrivals is the only major airport in India that has an X-Ray machine to check passengers baggage. I guess they do not trust the passengers, when they do declare that they do not have anything to declare, like the other 3 major airports.

For years now Delhi airport has employed x-ray machines behind the scene to check all checked-in luggage. I am not sure if they still do. If there was anything that looked dutiable they marked the luggage with a cross using chalk.
This helps the customs man at the gate identify passengers sneaking through without declaring. Back in 1995 , I realised this after they stopped my mother and insisted in opening only one of her many bags. Luckily it contained 2 of my old used electrical aplpliances. Of course once I realised the meaning of the cross , I used to put my luggage on the trolley in a such a way that the cross would be not visible.
Nowadays I hardly ever take any thing in which may cause concern so have not seen this method of marking. May be when I fly in next week I will check other passengers' bags.
btw, they also used to check and mark all your hand luggage on arrival. Again this does not seem to happen anymore, or if it does I have managed to escape it.

Let us know how you made out on your trip, and have a great trip.

Ill be arriving in delhi airport any time in dec or jan. Anyone I ask seems to just laugh when bring up the airport subject, with a response like it's crazy. I'm fairly nervous about the first hour in India, once I get through that Ill be fine.
So basically what I was hoping for is some very specific instruction. For example, catch bus or train number such and such, depart at such and such a stop. Then proceed to such and such a hotel. I need a day or to to regroup and releaize what Ive done. Im a backpacker so, cheap is a good word. I plan on going to goa, for a while? If anyone could get me through this first leg, wow, you would really be helping me out amarama

You must me my clone or vice-versa, I feel the same during the first hour after entering Bombay, I feel that every one wants to take me for a ride or rip me off. Most panicky are the guys in uniform, customs or police. Tey just have the petrifing look in them.

I am originally from Goa, and if given a chance would love to show anyone better places to see and at no charge. Hope I do get a chance to do so.

Ok dokey that's easy enough If you like you can arrange a taxi pick up at the Delhi airport, it's not cheap (in Indian terms) but it is a nice way to arrive knowing just a short taxi ride away there's a room waiting for you!!

Just walk outside and your man will be waiting with a board with your name written on it!!

I use the Star Palace who have proved realiable in this on many occasions. they also have a range of rooms to suit all budgets you'll find their contact info listed in the Hotels listings here at Indiamike.

The pick up will cost around 450 Rupees and they have rooms from 200rps to 600rps

Delhi airport is a little chalenging for the newbie but nothing too serious

On the baggage carousel the bags are not allowed to go around and around like in other airports, there's a couple of guys hauling them off at the the far end, where the carousel disappears back into the bowels of the airport. So if you don't see you bags don't panic they'll be laying on the ground in this area!!

You have to fill in an immigration slip (you get this on your flight) when you approach passport control they will give you a tear off slip hang onto it, the policeman at the door might ask for it
That's it basically just follow the crowd if you don't fancy the Hotel Pick up there are numerous prepaid taxi offices, again hold onto the slip they give you if you book, don't hand it over until the taxi gets you to where you want to go! Most taxi drivers are fine but a few will try and get you to their Hotels, where they get a nice commission, be firm and tell him you keep that slip until you arrive at you're chosen destination!!

That's it, don't worry you'll be fine I promise!

Hi Amarama
If after reading cyberhippie's response you still have any questions pls feel free to get in touch with me. I have done nearly 25 arrivals in Delhi in the last 12 years and can happily talk/guide you through the arrivals terminal/procedures.
I am however departing for Delhi on the 6th ( next week).
chagu

Wish I had known this when I arrived in Delhi....after 36 hours of constant travel from SF, Ed and I were pretty whacky. When we didn't see our bags, we were pretty dismayed, only then to find out they had been stacked on the floor.

No matter what budget you're travelling on, its well worth it to have a hotel lined up fo yourself and arrangements made to be picked up at the airport on your first night in India. I also stayed at the Star Paradise last January, and their airport pick-up was reliable.

Have a great trip!

Cyberhippie... the tear-off bit of the form is for customs and hould be handed to the customs man as you go through the 'green' channel. At Chennai, the 'Red' channel seems to consist of a few unmanned and deserted desks!

At Chennai all hand-baggage is x-rayed after you've gone through passport control; I do not know if check-in baggage is x-rayed back-stage. If it isn't, then I can't see the point in X-raying the hand stuff! But, Hey, this is India, and this is airports we're talking about (only a couple of years ago someone pointed out that, at that time, at London Heathrow knives were confiscated on the way in, but you could buy them in duty-free!)...

Glad to hear Chagu that there is another vagabond just like me..

when I got my bags in Chicago, my check-in bags had blue stickers on them, in English and Tamil, stating that they were x-rayed or inspected, one of those two.....

I just know they weren't opened up.

Thanks, I will take that as a major compliment. However I am a fake, as I run a business which requires me to visit India regularly.......

The bags are all x-rayed before you get them and they are also marked with a chalk to identify them if they carry any contraband items or things that could attract customs duty. Also the reason for x-raying hand baggage on arrival is usually for costly cameras and gold, the precious metal which is smuggled into India even if it is available here!!! There is no problem for most foreigners coming to India so it should not be something you need to worry about if you are having only a backpack and just need to worry if you are carrying any kind of drugs which are not allowed in the country. There is also a limit on the amount of alcohol and cigarettes you can get into the country so keep that in mind if you are getting anything more than two bottles or two cartons of cancer sticks!!! About the customs form you have to hand over the slip to the policeman at the gate and the prepaid taxi slip need not be given to the driver even after reaching the destination as that is your copy to be kept in case of any emergency to complain to the traffic police. Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Aadil.

surely much of that stuff ie drugs, cigarettes etc is not going to show up on an X-ray? My bags are usually packed with gadgets, and, this time, one of my hand cases was full of an electric mossie trap* and I've never been stopped.

*I don't know... it catches too mnay 'innocent' insects, and I haven't the heart to use it . Also it is has a fault .

The tear of strip doesn't always get asked for In Delhi sometimes their otherwise engaged and I just keep walking.

Like you say though Nick he probably is a customs guy, just looks like a policeman!!