Maharashtra brings back Covid-19 e-pass for inter-state, inter-district travel: Here's how to apply

Who is allowed to use public transport?

Mumbai local trains, metro and monorail will be accessible only to government employees (state, centre and local authorities) and medical personnel such as doctors, paramedics, lab technicians and medical clinic staff. Tickets or passes will be issued to them based on identity cards issued by the government and medical organisations concerned, respectively.

This means that common people can no longer use local trains, metro and monorail transport services. An exception has been made for people needing medical treatment, or specially abled persons with one attendant.

People working at shops, homes or in private offices cannot use those services to get to their places of work.

However, members of the public can use state government or local government-owned public buses. There are no restrictions on who can travel in public transport buses, except that they will operate at only 50 per cent of their standing capacity. They cannot have standing passengers.

What about inter-district and inter-city travel?

Anyone wishing to move across district borders in the state, or from one city to another within Maharashtra, can do so by long-distance trains and state-run buses which will continue to operate. It is not necessary to have an emergency reason to travel by these modes of transport.

The order said the local railway officers / Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) officers shall provide all information to the local disaster management authority, which screens passengers at the alighting point.

There, they will need to undergo 14 days home quarantine. Their hands will be stamped. If anyone shows symptoms during thermal screening, they will be removed to a corona care centre or hospital depending on the severity of their symptoms

What about private transport?

Private passenger transport such as taxis and autorickshaws are permitted to run only for emergency or essential services or valid reasons with the driver plus 50 per cent of the seating capacity.

“These are not expected to be inter-district or inter-city and should be confined to the city of residence of the travellers. Inter-district or inter-city travel by private transport is allowed only if required for performing an essential service or in case of medical emergencies or attending unavoidable events like funerals or severe sickness of family,” stated the order.

The order further said that the private buses can ply with 50 per cent of the seating capacity with no standing passengers and the people allowed to use it for any reason for inter-district travel in the state. The passengers shall be stamped on hand for 14-day home quarantine by the bus operator, it added.

The state has further said that bus service operators must restrict the stoppages to a maximum of two in a city and shall inform the local authority about the schedule. Thermal scanners shall be used and anyone with symptoms shall be moved to corona care centre or to a hospital.

The official said that private vehicles are allowed to be used for city and inter-district travel only for essential services and for medical emergencies or attending unavoidable events like funerals or severe sickness of family.

“But, they need to satisfy the police on it as the police will be stopping all the private vehicles and will be inquiring about the reasons for their travel,” added the official.

In view of a recent surge in Covid-19 cases, Maharashtra has reintroduced its e-pass system for inter-state and inter-district travel amid the ongoing coronavirus disease-necessitated curfew restrictions. According to the Maharashtra Police, the e-pass will be necessary only for travel in "extreme emergency" situations and citizens can apply for the e-pass with from the government portal with relevant documents related to the purpose.