New Delhi, July 2025: In a proactive step to prevent the spread of infectious diseases into India, the central government is preparing to set up quarantine facilities at four key international entry points. The new centres will come up at Amritsar, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, and Petrapole, bolstering the country’s frontline defences against health threats.
Focus on High-Risk Entry Points
Officials noted that these locations were selected due to their strategic importance and high volumes of daily cross-border movement. Amritsar connects India to Pakistan via land routes, Petrapole in West Bengal is the busiest land port with Bangladesh, Guwahati acts as a crucial gateway to the Northeast, and Bhubaneswar is an emerging hub for air connectivity in eastern India.
Quarantine as the First Line of Defence
Quarantine facilities play a crucial role in public health by separating individuals who may have been exposed to diseases like Covid-19 but are not yet symptomatic. This ensures they do not inadvertently spread infections into the community. “Even a single undetected carrier of a novel virus can seed an outbreak with serious public health implications,” said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, public health expert and former IMA Cochin president.
Backed by PM-ABHIM
These upcoming centres are part of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), a flagship programme with an investment of ₹64,180 crore to enhance India’s health readiness. The mission focuses on strengthening public health labs, operationalising new health units, and building facilities at land crossings, airports, and seaports to manage future health emergencies effectively.
Reallocation of Resources
Originally, quarantine centres were planned for Kannur, Bhogapuram, Chennai, and Kolkata. However, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to fund the facilities at Kannur and Bhogapuram from its own budget, while the Airport Authority of India (AAI) will integrate centres at Chennai and Kolkata within their airport expansion projects. This strategic reallocation freed up funds, enabling the establishment of new facilities at Amritsar, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, and Petrapole.
Enhanced Preparedness and Monitoring
Health ministry officials stressed that these centres will aid in monitoring passengers, isolating high-risk individuals, and preventing potential outbreaks. Such preparedness reduces pressure on hospitals, ensures swift responses in emergencies, and protects the larger population by controlling the disease at the entry point itself.
Recent Approval
This decision was formally approved at a recent meeting of the Mission Steering Group under the National Health Mission, where senior health strategists emphasised the importance of building robust infrastructure to face any future pandemics confidently.
Awaiting Implementation Details
While an official timeline is yet to be released, preparations for planning, construction, and operational staffing are expected to begin soon within the current fiscal year. Queries to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on specific dates remained unanswered as of reporting time.
Strategic Significance
Experts say these initiatives mark an important shift in India’s public health policy, from reactive containment to proactive prevention. “Dedicated quarantine facilities at high-volume entry points are critical for early isolation and control of emerging threats before they become unmanageable outbreaks,” said a senior health official.
