To be honest, I don’t feel elated, being an Indian, writing about yet another visa issue that bugs an event that’s of international repute, an event that could make India proud. But write I must. Keeping mum is no solution.
The Formula One Indian Grand Prix, slated to take place on October 30th at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, has been bugged with all kinds of issues. Farmers were up in arms against issues pertaining to land acquisition and compensation; then there was this issue about the Indian Government wanting to tax a share of the teams’ earnings and now finally here comes the visa issue. The Times of India recently reported on how the Indian government’s apathetic approach in issuing visas to F1 team members- drivers, journalists et al- could make the entire thing go wrong.
Reports suggest that those getting ready to travel to Delhi (Noida is near Delhi) for the event next month are now in a fix as getting the visa has become a real big issue. Mercedes GP driver Nico Rosberg and ‘half of the Hispania Racing Team’, as per recent buzz, have got their visa applications rejected. Journalists are finding it hard as they would have to pay more for a journalist visa than for a regular tourist visa and that too when they are coming in to promote the whole thing. It’s all going tedious, as per those waiting in the line for the visas and FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) authorities reveal that if the government continues to take three weeks to process a visa application, upto 90 percent of F1 people won’t be attending the race.
With just about six weeks to go for the international event, which happens to be the first Formula One Grand Prix to take place on the Indian Subcontinent, would things be resolved and the visa issue sorted out? Let’s hope so.
