Pass must for inter-district, inter-state movement: Maharashtra cops

PUNE: Wanowrie resident Vinay S (36), an engineer, and his family are worried about getting him a pass to travel from Mumbai to Pune. Vinay has been held up at an offshore ONGC installation since March 19.

His relatives have many questions even as his employers told him he won’t require a travel pass and that they would arrange a private taxi for his journey back to Pune.Meanwhile, his family is exploring other options for a travel pass to ensure he doesn’t face any trouble returning to Pune.
Similarly, a 35-year-old software engineer from Kothrud, who found himself stuck at his offshore work centre in Germany, is wondering how he would return to Pune once he lands in Mumbai. “I will be in India as soon as international flights resume, but I am worried if I will be allowed to travel without a pass or how I can secure one,” the techie told TOI.
“In situations like these, the traveller can apply online for a pass on ‘covid19.mhpolice.in’, where applications are processed as per the urgency,” a senior state police officer said.
The easing of restrictions and phased opening of the lockdown in the state between June 1 and 30 has spurred a slew of inquiries from people about the requirement of travel passes for travel between Pune and other districts or outside Maharashtra. The state’s guidelines of May 31 are categorical on this count — “Inter-state and inter-district movement of persons shall continue to be regulated.”
“Passes are must for travel to and from other districts and states. People who wish to travel to other districts and other states can apply online for digital pass,” deputy Commissioner of Police Bachchan Singh told TOI.
“No travel pass is required for commute within the city or district,” he said.
“Many areas of Pune city have been declared as containment zones. Controlling movement of people from these areas is imperative to check the spread of the contagion and hence, passes are required,” he added. “Also, people will have to mention the nature of the work for which they are travelling,” Singh said.